Review Samsung RV515-S03DE Laptop, AA-PB9NC6B / AA-PB9NC5B computer batteries

Product ID:1001369 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:replacement computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:4400mAh Battery Color:Black

Battery Life

The 48 Wh of AA-PB9NC6B battery capacity does not indicate an extremely long runtime. We can confirm this. The Samsung user will have to be satisfied with 3:27 hours rather than the 5:22 hours of an E2-1800 system (HP's 655). The idling/standby time also drops from 6:32 to 5:22 hours in this comparison. The battery capacity of 47 Wh in HP's 655 is almost equal.

The runtime is only marginally better when compared with the old Intel-RV511 (not quite three hours, Wi-Fi test). Apparently the HD 6470M annuls the Zacate APU's runtime advantage in the SAMSUNG RV515. The battery needs 2:14 hours for recharging, which is still an acceptable time. It does not matter whether Prime95 (CPU stress), FurMark (GPU) or Battery Eater's Classic are used for the load runtime. The result is always roughly two hours.

Case

The workmanship of Samsung's RV515 is equal to the prior RV511, which is not a positive rating in this case. The rigidness does not satisfy us. We can warp the base unit with both hands and provoke an obvious creaking noise. The plastic base plate can be dented on its left and right. Particularly the DVD drive is a weak point.

The hinges have a firm hold on the lid but do not prevent it from rocking. The lid's closing force is very good. We have to use both hands and a lot of force. This reduces the risk of unintentional opening during transportation. The maximum opening angle is approximately 140 degrees. (SAMSUNG AA-PBYN4AB batteries)

The grayish shimmering surfaces inside are matte but also susceptible to scratches. The paint will wear off on the sharp edges on the wrist rest's left and right when used extensively. The lid's grooved surface has a pleasant to the feel texture that particularly prevents fingerprints completely and provides a very secure hold.

Connectivity

Except for one USB 2.0 port, the interfaces are all focused on the case's left. The port placement seems reasonable. As so often the case, no interfaces are found on the rear. But at least the two left USB 2.0 ports are at the very back. VGA and HDMI are located in the center. Thus, the unwieldy cables can be routed to the back when on the desk. (SAMSUNG AA-PB9NC6W batteries) 

Communication

The draft-n standard Wi-Fi module (Atheros AR9285) does not feature Bluetooth. The Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller can transmit data at gigabit speeds in the network. This is still the fastest option for PC-PC data transfer via switch.

Keyboard

The number pad and arrow keys are smaller than the others. The number pad's standard layout with the comma and return at the bottom right complies with desktop keyboards. The arrow keys are squeezed in between the shift key and number pad.

We can type quite accurately and fast on the keyboard. The key drop is medium and the stroke is firm (not hard). The surface noticeably yields above the DVD drive and causes a weak typing feedback. The pressure point is clear but the level surface thwarts accuracy.

Typists will like the elevated wrist rest. Big hands have room here; the surface is tilted toward the user and the weak isolation keys are in a recess for easy access. However, the black high-gloss plastic that surrounds the keys seems contra-productive. Dust and fingerprints accumulate on the sides, beneath and in the center of the keys. Scratches will also soon become apparent.

Touchpad

The Elan Smart Pad features a very large surface that is sensitive up to its edges. It has two scroll bars (vertical & horizontal) that are not marked visibly (can be disabled). The surface is matte and gliding is rather slippery. Multi-finger gestures, such as rotate, scroll or zoom, are implemented quickly. The keys medium drop, soft stroke and smoothness enables fast clicking. However, the high-pitched clicking noise is loud and ultimately gets annoying.

Display

Samsung has recently resumed using a glare-type HD screen (1366x768 pixels; model: CMO N156BGE-L21). It is no longer matte as in the RV511. The contrast of 237:1 is average. However, rates of up to 200:1 are common for lower and medium priced office laptops and multimedia devices. The CMO screen does not reproduce the nicely saturated black colors of a high-end screen. The glare-type however "camouflages" this shortcoming a bit.

The color spectrum is remote from the Adobe RGB 1998 (t) reference. The same is true for sRGB (t). But this criterion is only relevant for professional users.

The TFT still distributes the brightness homogeneously over the surface: 87%. The LED brightness deviations are marginal. The minimum and maximum are only 28 cd/m2 apart. The average brightness of 207 cd/m2 is only middling. A very good value would be between 250 to 300 cd/m2.

The screen's weak brightness is not strong enough to effectively defy reflections in daylight. Thus, eye-friendly reading is not possible. The brightness is maintained on battery. The 15.6-incher does not feature a light sensor for adaptive brightness control.

The SAMSUNG RV515 has narrow viewing angles like almost all office and multimedia notebooks. Color deviations start at about 15 degrees when the eyes drift up or down (vertically). We can deviate up to 45 degrees from the center horizontally (right and left) before annoying ghosting turns up. (MSI BTY-S19 Battery)

Speakers

The speakers will not impress hi-fi fans. They will be forced to use external speakers or headphones. The sound is midrange-heavy (thin sound) and clearly distorts at maximum volume, which is adequate for a 15.6-inch device. A 3.5 millimeter audio jack is available for external speakers or headphones. The audio signal can alternatively be transmitted digitally via HDMI.

Verdict

Samsung's RV515 (NP-RV515-S03DE) is doubtlessly an interesting project. The Radeon HD 6470M improves the E-series APU's gaming performance by a few percentage points. Where current games were unplayable with the original E-450 APUs in low settings in the past, they now run sufficiently smooth - no more and no less.

Fortunately, the testers do not have to decide whether this is a strong enough purchase argument. The RV515 does many things right in terms of mobility, ergonomics and input devices. Fast typing is possible (although a bit spongy over the DVD drive) and noise is an unknown word. 3:30 hours of runtime (Wi-Fi test) however confirm our fears that the HD 6470 reduces the battery life compared with an E-450 and E2-1800.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review Dell Latitude E5530 Laptop, M5Y0X / T54F3 computer batteries

Product ID:1002569 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:97Wh Battery Color:Black

Battery Life

DELL M5Y0X 9-cell (97 Whr) Lithium Ion battery, which protrudes from the back of the notebook. Other available options include a T54F3 6-cell battery and a 4-cell (40 Whr) battery, as well as a 9-cell (97 Whr) Extended slice battery, which attaches to the docking station port on the bottom of the unit.

This isn’t the first time a Latitude notebook has impressed us with its battery life. We first simulated bare minimal use with the Reader’s Test in Battery Eater. Before testing, we fully charged the unit and disabled sleep, hibernation, screen and hard drive timeouts, and all wireless radios. Using this configuration along with the “Power Saver” power profile, the notebook lasted an excellent 11 hours and 7 minutes before shutting down. Do keep in mind, however, that in order to achieve such numbers, you essentially can’t use the computer for anything beyond very basic reading.

To test battery life under heavy system load, we re-enabled Wi-Fi, set brightness to its highest level, and switched the power profile to “High Performance.” Using Battery Eater’s Classic Test, the system lasted under these conditions for 2 hours and 41 minutes before shutting off. It isn’t surprising how much lower this number is than the idle test results thanks to the extreme scaling of the Intel CPU under various load conditions.

Perhaps the two most interesting tests, however, are the more realistic real-world battery test and DVD playback test. In the former, we set the notebook’s power profile to “Balanced” and configured screen brightness to approximately 150 cd/m² (level 11 of 15 on our review unit). We then ran the Notebookcheck web surfing script to simulate typical internet browsing behavior across a series of pages, including basic articles and full-scale Flash videos. In this test, the notebook lasted a respectable 8 hours and 9 minutes before shutting down.

In the DVD playback test, settings are identical to that of the real-world battery test, except a video DVD is being looped continuously. In this test, the notebook lasted for 7 hours and 21 minutes, which ought to be more than long enough to enjoy any feature-length film… multiple times.

Case

The Dell Latitude E5530’s case is practically unchanged from that of the Dell Latitude E5520 before it—in other words, tight, relatively heavyweight, and no-nonsense. While it doesn’t feature the aforementioned mil-spec construction or rubbery interior finish of its big brother, the E6530, it is aesthetically similar, and it still feels quite sturdy. In spite of the comparably second-tier materials, the most important features of the Latitude construction are still present—namely, the impressive solidity, which leaves little doubt that this notebook should stand up under somewhat heavy use.

For starters, the brushed aluminum display lid makes a return, which feels well-made and exhibits very little flex under pressure. Some LCD distortion is detectable under considerable stress, but a good deal of impact on the lid would be required to damage the LCD. Should a broken LCD panel ever result, the bezel is convenient to remove, secured only by a series of plastic tabs surrounding the panel. The lid is also easy to clean and attractive, resisting fingerprints fairly well. As usual, a silver Dell logo inhabits the central point of the lid, representing a sole ostentatious statement amongst an otherwise appropriately subtle exterior.

The practical design philosophy extends to the base unit of the notebook, where, despite a predominantly plastic construction, solidity and stability are the rule. The palm rest feels impressively firm, holding up nicely under significant pressure. The keyboard, while certainly sturdier than most consumer fare, does still experience a bit of flex, mostly on the right-hand side near the number pad, almost certainly thanks to the optical drive bay located directly underneath it. The material wrapping the notebook’s corners is entirely plastic as well (on the E6530, by comparison, it is magnesium alloy), and while it is very similar in appearance to that of the E6530, it’s not 100 percent flawless in terms of fit and finish; there is one particular corner on our review unit that is noticeably separated from the rest of the base unit. In contrast, the hinges are made of steel, though it may not be immediately evident thanks to the decorative plastic sheathing covering them—and the display is well-supported by them, wobbling very little under most circumstances. Finally, the zinc-plated latching mechanism confidently secures the lid to the base and is easy to open.

Earlier we mentioned the simplicity of accessing the LCD panel in the event of an accident. Thankfully, the same user-friendly maintenance approach applies to most every other component of the Dell Latitude E5530 as well. Like its predecessor, the underside of the machine features a single large panel which covers nearly every upgradeable component of the PC. Therein you’ll find unabated access to the hard drive, RAM, optical drive, WLAN adapter, heatsink/CPU, WWAN adapter (if included), and an additional ½ mini PCIe slot for expansion.

Connectivity

The standard array of ports once again makes a return on the Dell Latitude E5530, though the Firewire port is conspicuously absent. Most users likely will not miss it, however, thanks to the upgrade of two existing ports to USB 3.0 from 2.0. One of the USB 3.0 ports also shares eSATA functionality, and the remaining two USB 2.0 ports are still present, as well.

Port positioning is identical to that of the previous DELL Latitude E55XX models. One solitary USB 2.0 port lines the back-right of the notebook alongside the Gigabit Ethernet port, and the DC jack sits next to an abandoned modem port on the back-left side. Apart from those few rear-mounted ports and the front-located wireless toggle switch, the rest of the ports are thankfully accessible from the sides. The logical trade-off of such an arrangement, of course, is that the ports are also somewhat closely-spaced, meaning that the insertion of a relatively large USB adapter could block the connection of another adjacent device. However, this is relatively unlikely thanks to the rear USB port (which is mostly isolated from everything else), which could easily be used to connect any large flash drives or other obstructive devices.

Communication

Our DELL Latitude E5530 review unit came equipped with a dual-band Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 network adapter, which supports Wi-Fi (up to 300Mbps; 2x2 antenna configuration) and Intel Wireless Display (WiDi). For Bluetooth, it’s necessary to choose a preconfigured option featuring a Dell Wireless 380 Bluetooth 4.0 LE adapter (the notebook’s Bluetooth module is not customer-upgradeable later). It’s also possible to configure a system which includes a Gobi 3G PCIe Mini Card (Dell Wireless DW5630) to work with the network of your choice: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon. However, this card won’t score you LTE connectivity; for that, you’ll need to purchase a card separately, as it isn’t currently offered on a configured-to-order system.

Keyboard

The DELL Latitude E series of notebooks has always featured better-than-average keyboards, but we happen to consider the one on our review model amongst the best keyboards on any notebook. It’s invariably accurate with a solid stroke that requires very little force to invoke, but which responds with a satisfying sense of travel and decisive feedback. This provides for near-effortless typing. The keyboard is also relatively quiet, and the backlighting on our review unit (which is adjustable in four steps) is mostly evenly-distributed. A number pad rests to the right of the keyboard, nearby four full-sized arrow keys, which are equally easy to operate.

It’s worth mentioning that the praise we’ve lavished upon the Latitude’s keyboard doesn’t necessarily apply to all variants of the model. Specifically, there are notable differences between the standard Latitude keyboards and their backlit counterparts. The standard keyboards don’t feel quite as satisfying to the touch, featuring a harder-surfaced, clattery key operation in place of the quieter premium feel of the rubbery backlit model. Fortunately, swapping a standard keyboard out for a backlit model is quite simple thanks to the Latitude’s maintenance-friendly design.

Touchpad

The sufficiently large Alps Electric touchpad is equally commendable, sporting a smooth finish that makes gliding the finger across a pleasure—no sticking, and just enough friction. The accompanying buttons provide a quiet yet accurate click that is easily provoked, with a rubbery finish that fits in well with the rest of the peripherals. Multi-touch functionality works as expected and is easily configurable using the excellent control panel interface. Finally, if you’re a fan of the pointing stick, you’ll find it included with the backlit keyboard only, complete with three additional mouse buttons as usual.

Display

The DELL Latitude E5530’s 15.6-inch screen can be configured as either a standard HD (1366x768) display or a Full HD (1920x1080) Wide View display. Both displays are WLED-backlit and feature a matte finish, which is always a welcomed choice in our book. While the higher-res 1080p display is likely of considerably higher quality as well, our review unit included a standard 1366x768 pixel HD panel, and we found it to be more than sufficient for everyday business use. Subjectively speaking, the colors appeared fairly represented and text was sharp (though, of course, on a display of this size and resolution, individual pixels are fairly easy to detect as well). (DELL 312-1242 Battery)

The panel in our test unit turned in an average brightness of 210 nits, which absolutely suffices for indoor use. Most users will likely prefer a brightness level at or above 11/15 to provide for comfortable viewing in such an environment. Brightness distribution is mostly even at 91% (variations this low won’t be noticeable in everyday use). The DELL Latitude E5530’s LCD contrast ratio is just 150:1, which isn’t uncommonly low for a business notebook, but it certainly won’t turn any heads. This is thanks to a correspondingly high black value of 1.47 cd/m². 

On the other hand, 81 percent of the sRGB standard is covered, which is not bad for a TN panel. In this category, the E5530 bests most of its closest competitors. This sort of color reproduction is adequate for all but the most discerning of users (such as those concerned about color accuracy for purposes of graphic design or photography). The so-called “premium panels”—if they remain the same as those in their predecessors—should cover all of the sRGB spectrum, making that a better choice for those concerned about color accuracy.

Outdoor use is possible, but direct sunlight gives the panel a run for its money, mostly drowning out the picture—even at maximum brightness—and making it difficult to use in spite of its matte finish. Operation in the shade, meanwhile, is perfectly comfortable. Brightness and panel finish (matte vs. glossy) are certainly the most important factors in outdoor notebook usability, though a strong contrast ratio also certainly helps. In this case, the E5530’s 150:1 contrast ratio doesn’t benefit it much.

While the screen can be opened until it’s nearly parallel with the base of the notebook, this doesn’t help much when the viewing angles are narrow. Deviating from the center vertically either up or down will quickly result in distorted and inverted color. Fortunately, horizontal viewing angles are much better. It’s possible to read the screen far from the side, though color and brightness distortions noticeably take hold after around the 45 degree mark.

Speakers

Predictably, the DELL Latitude E5530’s audio system is, as expected, an afterthought in in comparison to the rest of the feature set. The sound is relatively flat with hardly any low frequency response. Meanwhile, the maximum volume is actually reasonable (especially when situated on a hard surface, which benefits the down-firing speakers), and the sound is at least quite clear with very little distortion, so there’s no reason why an occasional movie viewing wouldn’t be possible. The two small speakers are located on the bottom-front of the notebook; it’s essentially the same audio system that nearly every Latitude has seen for the past few years.

Business notebooks aren’t made for entertainment, and as such, they normally exert little focus on such features.

Verdict

Our review of the Latitude E5520 praised its excellent keyboard and touchpad, sufficiently bright matte display, and solid, “high-end” design. Our only complaints were minor, the most significant of which involved the lack of USB 3.0 and the high level of noise under load. Has the Latitude E5530 carried the torch forward and resolved those outstanding issues?

All things considered, the dell Latitude E5530 is a no-nonsense business notebook that excels in most every area that counts. It offers a wide range of connectivity options including two USB 3.0 ports and compatibility with the bevy of existing Dell business docking stations and accessories. It features a phenomenal backlit keyboard and comfortable touchpad to compliment a better-than-average matte LCD panel. And its performance—even with the middle-of-the-pack Core i5-3360M option—is truly impressive, conquering even the highest-end dual-core Sandy Bridge processors. In fact, the integrated graphics are so improved with Intel HD Graphics 4000 that it’s entirely possible to play many midrange games on medium to low settings with fluid frame rates.

But there are certainly a few drawbacks, however minor. Firstly, the build quality and construction materials are certainly inferior to that of the more expensive Latitude E6XXX models; rubbery finishes and magnesium alloy have been exchanged for hard plastics and… well, more hard plastics. Fortunately, the display lid is still aluminum-backed and the machine nonetheless feels sturdy in spite of this. Also, it’s still very loud, and in fact, even more so than its predecessor. But as a result, it’s also cooler under load—and if it becomes truly bothersome, it’s always possible to adjust the operation of the fan using Dell’s custom power profiles.

The business notebook market is a very competitive space occupied by other strong contenders such as Lenovo’s ThinkPad T530 and Samsung’s Series 6 machines—and, of course, even Dell’s own high-end DELL Latitude E6530. But when cost is a prime consideration, and the power of Ivy Bridge is desired, the Latitude E5530 provides an option meeting all of the essential criteria and an alternative worthy of strong consideration.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A Computer, C22-UX31 Laptop batteries

Product ID:1002804 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:7.4 V Battery Capacity:50 Wh \ 6840 mAh Battery Color:Black

ASUS ZenBook UX31A Battery Life

ASUS Li-ion battery pack C22-UX31 Rating 7.4V 6840mAh

Intel mainly promised more performance for the new Ivy Bridge platform. But does it improve battery run times as well? Does the new, power hungry IPS display panel have a negative effect on runtime? As usual, we use the BatteryEater tool to test this. Best score in the Reader's Test was a strong 10 hours and 48 minutes, when simulating the reading of a document with minimum display brightness, energy savings profile and all radios deactivated.

With the internet surfing test (150cd/m² display brightness, wireless radios active, standardized web surfing, opening a page every 40 seconds) we arrived at considerably lower 4 hours and 42 minutes. By comparison: last year's UX31 only managed a maximum of 7 hours and 30 minutes, but in the surf test, it held out a bit longer at 5 hours and 9 minutes. The Zenbook UX32VD also tops out at a maximum of 7 hours and 8 minutes, while it fell behind with just 4 hours and 18 minutes in the surf test.

In the BatteryEater Classic test, we managed 148 minutes with the high performance profile, maximum display brightness and activated radios and keyboard back light. With this, the UX31A is just ahead of the ASUS ZenBook UX31, but falls behind the ASUS ZenBook UX32VD.

To replace the integrated battery, Asus tentatively quotes a price of 80-90 Euro. Apple offers the same service for 129 dollars.

Case

When you pull the ASUS Zenbook UX31A out of its included fabric sleeve for the first time, it's understandable to be taken aback by its gorgeous brushed aluminum chassis. Its svelte profile measures 0.11 by 12.8 by 8.8 inches (HWD), and at 3.03 pounds, it's a smidge heavier than the 2.9-pound MacBook Air 13-inch (Mid 2012), putting it at the lighter end of the ultrabook category (by way of comparison, our former Editors' Choice for ultraportables, the Toshiba Portege R858-P88, weighs 3.2 pounds). Opening the UX31A-DB51 reveals a design that takes a good deal of its design cues from the MacBook Air, particularly its unibody construction and black tiled keyboard.

But there are also some distinguishing characteristics. For starters, the UX31A-DB51's palm rest is slightly smaller. Moreover, its Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speaker is horizontally oriented not unlike a home theatre soundbar and is built into the 13.3-inch LED display's hinge. I tested the audio quality with Five Seconds by Twin Shadow and was pleased with the clean and crisp sound, though the maximum volume level isn't nearly high enough to fill a room (unless the room in question happens to be a dorm). Regardless of the size of the room you're in, however, the display will definitely turn heads. Thanks to its built-in IPS (in plane switching) panel, the non-reflective matte coated display features excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angles that complement its class-leading 1080p resolution, a huge step above the 1,366-by-768 resolution typically found in most 13- and 14-inch panels. The closest any competing system comes to entering this rarefied territory is the Dell XPS 14 (Summer 2012), which has a 1,600-by-900 resolution 14-inch LED display.

The only obvious gap would be the edge around the large service hatch at the bottom, but it leaves no room for criticism with its perfect fit. The design of the outer edge around the base unit is comparably hard but its never unpleasant in use, partly because the wrist rest is barely 10 millimeters above the table surface.

The display lid sports a minimal lip at the center, to allow easy opening when its closed. Opening works perfectly with no need for both hands. Asus perfectly dialed in the resistance of of the central display hinge, preventing any bobbing of the display, yet allowing the unit to be opened without the base unit lifting off the table. The maximum opening angle of 140° should be sufficient for most purposes. Should this not be the case, the IPS panel will cover for it with its state of the art viewing angles.

Coming to think of it: In regards to quality, stability, design and workmanship, the Zenbook Prime UX31A is an equal to the Ultrabook with the Apple logo on its lid. The former reference now has an equal competitor.

Connectivity

Since the unibody case is somewhat slimmer than the Zenbook UX32VD, there was less room for connectors. On the left, we find one USB 3.0 port, a combined headphone/mic connector and an SD card reader. To the right, we find a micro HDMI port, a mini VGA port, one more USB 3.0 connector as well as the power connector.

By comparison to the Zenbook UX32, the UX31A omits one USB 3.0 port and shrinks the HDMI port. RJ45 LAN as well as VGA are supplied with included adapters. What's missing? Not much for mobile use, we think. More likely, we can think of a possible criticism for desktop use, which would be called DisplayPort in this case, because VGA tops out at a maximum resolution of 1920x2000 pixels.

Connected by VGA adapter, our Dell 2408WFP test monitor delivered a good and sufficiently sharp image at the maximum resolution of 1920x1200. Only in direct comparison to the HDMI connection could we detect slightly less sharpness over VGA. Working at a normal distance from the display, this should not be noticeable. Connecting 2 external monitors simultaneously with the internal display is also possible, using HDMI and VGA at the same time. The Zenbook managed our office setup with two Dell 24 monitors (1920x1200) and the integrated display without trouble. The UX31A only hits its limit when it comes to high resolution external displays, because a DisplayPort interface would be required for resolutions like 2560x1600 pixels. 

Looking at the fruit store competition, we find the same two USB 3.0 ports, the SD card reader and the headphone connectors. In regards to external monitors, Apple uses the newer Thunderbolt interface, which can also be used as a Mini-DisplayPort supporting up to 2560x1600 pixel resolutions. Adapters for the Thunderbolt port must be purchased separately: DVI adapter (29 Euro), Dual Link DVI adapter (99 Euro), VGA adapter(29 Euro), HDMI adapter(29 Euro) Gigabit LAN adapter(29 Euro). This scores a point for Apple, but with an after taste, as you have to suffer Apple's hand in your pocket again, while Asus provides its adapters without extra charge. (ASUS C22-UX31 batteries)

Keyboard

Look and feel gives us the idea that its the same keyboard and touch pad as in the Zenbook UX32VD. The typing feel differs from the previously tested UX32VD none the less, which suffered from a lack of stable support, causing it to sag while typing. Thanks to the unibody case, this is no longer a problem, so there are only trifles left to mention: The keys have a short stroke, which may require getting used to, depending on preferences. 

Touchpad

The large size touchpad continues to please us. As far as Windows allows, multitouch gestures work pleasantly well. Even two finger scrolling, like in a browser, works reasonably well now, even though its not quite comparable to current touch solutions from the Apple and Android camps. We are still not happy with the clickpad concept when it comes to drag and drop operations with two fingers. Sometimes several attempts are required before the pad recognizes our intent and actually fulfills it.

In regards to input devices, at least for the touchpad, Apple is ahead. Without question, the keyboard and generous touchpad are top notch among windows systems, but Apple can better tune its software to its own hardware, leading to a better user experience with this.

Display

Naturally, Asus integrates what is probably the best currently available notebook display in its high end range of Ultrabooks. Only the excellent Full-HD IPS panel is offered in the Zenbook Prime UX21A, which we already had the pleasure of examining closely in our test of the UX32VD. A look at the display ID shows it to be the same type as in the UX32VD. Accordingly, the differences in our measurements should be considered either measurement or product tolerances. (DELL H7XW1 batteries) 

With exceptionally good brightness of about 375 cd/m², very even illumination, low black value and accordingly high contrast, no room for criticism is left. Additionally, the panel comes with a non-reflective finish, avoiding annoying reflections and mirror images, so Zenbooks can be used outdoors without concern. IPS panels also offer extreme viewing angles without significant alteration of the displayed image. This contributes significantly to the mobility of the UX31A.

With a display size of 13.3, the ASUS UX31A sports the most common size among current Ultrabooks. Rather uncommon and far ahead of most competitors is the resolution offered: Full-HD, 1920 x 1080 pixels. Without making use of Windows scaling, icons and text would be rather small, so Asus has adjusted sizes to display desktop and browser a bit larger. Since this doesn't quite work without fail in every piece of software available, we looked at this problem more closely in the UX32VD review.

The non-reflective surface and excellent brightness, which is also available while running on battery power, makes it possible to surf or work outdoors as you please. Even in direct sunlight, the screen remains perfectly readable and reflections are reduced to an easily acceptable minimum.

The IPS display's stability of viewing angles is also above doubt. Moving from the optimum viewing angle in the process of daily work causes no changes in the displayed image. The panel has no problems with even the most extreme angles. One should just be careful when looking at sensitive data, because someone 3 seats away could effortlessly read along...

With a black background, we could detect some back light bleed in the lower right of the display, as well as a weak bleeding along the lower edges, but this is not noticeable during every day use. (DELL XPS L412z Series batteries) 

Finally, we'll take another sidelong glance at Apple's MacBook Air 13. A 13.3 display is offered here too, but with glare surface and a resolution of 1440x900 pixels. Apple does use a good quality TN panel with strong brightness and convincing color rendition and contrast. But the reflective surface is not everybody's thing and in outdoor use simply inferior. The higher resolution is also a feature in favor of the Asus UX31A, even though some Windows applications fail at properly carrying out scaling. Apple would have handled scaling better in their own operating system, as shown by the MacBookPro Retina (2880x1800 Pixel!), even thought that suffered some glitches at first too. Customers of the new Air generation can't enjoy a high resolution display yet. Point scored by Asus.

Speakers

After removal of the service hatch below the notebook, one can see the speaker cabinets. The membrane looks similar to the ones in the UX32VD, but the small cabinets have a different shape, because the battery shape is different. They look more like the ASUS Zenbook UX31, which had different membranes installed though.

Enough observations, how do they sound? In spite of the similar construction of the UX32VD speakers, we like the sound of the UX31A a lot better. We did not notice any muffled sound with our ears positioned above the notebook here. Its possible that was just the pre-production sample of the UX32VD that had this issue. Playing back songs with the UX31A sounds alright. A weakness in bass is unavoidable, but in comparison with many other compact notebooks, the UX31A sounds very good.

Verdict

We already called Asus' first model, the ASUS Zenbook UX31 a well designed overall package. Our main point of criticism at that time was the display, which had a very reflective screen and also lacked contrast.

So, we are particularly happy that the successor Zenbook Prime UX31A sports one of the most attractive currently available displays, a non reflective Full-HD IPS panel with excellent brightness and contrast values.

Everything else about the ASUS Zenbook UX31A remains nearly unchanged and on a high level. A high quality aluminum unibody casing, a small but for mobile use sufficient set of connectors, a usable keyboard, now with back light.

In regards to performance, the Ivy Bridge update offers a decent improvement. Once more, we find an ADATA MX11 SSD aboard, which made us take notice of its very good read speeds, which improve the subjective speed of the system considerably.

There was a slight increase in emissions from its predecessor to be noted, regarding both noise and surface temperatures. Still, the UX31A is generally a whisper quiet companion, with surface temperatures always within limits. Battery run times are, depending on the usage scenario, either a little worse or a little better than last year's model.

In conclusion, we find the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A to be a successfully executed update. The old model's strengths were kept and the few weaknesses eliminated. In search of a mobile office companion, the Asus UX31A turns out to be a near perfect choice. Possible points of criticism are limited and could be viewed as nagging on a high level (fixed RAM, missing DisplayPort and Gigabit LAN).

Update: Due to component shortages, Asus delivers the UX31A not only with the ADATA MX11 (with Sandforce controller), as present in our test model, but alternatively also with a Sandisk U100 SSD. According to user reports, this affects both 128GB and 256GB versions (see above). There is no way to see which model SSD is installed in any given model offered, without starting the system. The Sandforce Driven sticker on the package does not serve as reliable indication.

More info:　laptop-batteries.com.au ,laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review Dell Latitude E6430 Notebook, M5Y0X / T54F3 computer batteries

Product ID:1002569 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:97 Wh \ 8700 mAh Battery Color:Black

Dell Latitude E6430 Battery Life

With its optional M5Y0X 9-cell battery installed, the Dell Latitude E6430 lasted a very strong 10 hours and 37 minutes, more than 4 hours longer than the 6 hour and 33 minute thin-and-light notebook category average. However, the Lenovo ThinkPad T430 lasted a whopping 13 hours and 25 minutes with its 9-cell battery attached.

Design and Durability

The Dell Latitude E6430 has the same attractive gunmetal gray aluminum lid, matte chrome body and angular sides as its predecessor, the Dell Latitude E6420. With a snazzy design that reminds us a sci-fi spaceship, the E6430 stands out in the world of staid black-and-gray business notebooks.

Like all the current members of Dell's Latitude E6400 line, the E6430 is built for durability with a Tri-Metal chassis that consists of a magnesium alloy frame, reinforced steel hinges, a matte chrome bumper, a protective LCD seal and a spill-resistant keyboard.

The notebook has been MIL-STD 810G tested, which means it should be able to withstand extreme temperatures, dust and vibrations better than most notebooks.

At 5.4 pounds and 13.9 x 9.5 x 1.3 inches, the Dell Latitude E6430 feels bulky for a 14-inch notebook. The ThinkPad T430 is smaller, thinner and lighter at 5.2 pounds and 13.8 x 9.1 x 1.2 inches. The Fujitsu LifeBook U772 (12.9 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches, 3 pounds) is much lighter, but that 14-inch Ultrabook isn't nearly as rugged as this Dell or the T430. (DELL 312-1242 batteries) 

Keyboard

The Dell Latitude E6430's backlit, spill-resistant keyboard provides a strong level of tactile response. Combine that with an very comfortable soft-touch plastic palm rest and you have one of the best typing experiences on a notebook. We were able to achieve a strong score of 92 words per minute with just a 1 percent error rate on the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, well above our 80 word-per-minute average.

By hitting Fn + right arrow, we were able to configure the keyboard's backlighting, choosing between five modes: off, 25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent brightness. Even at 100 percent, the light was not particularly bright, and it shined up from the crevices between the keys.

Touchpad and Pointing Stick

The 3.2 x 1.75-inch touchpad provided accurate navigation around the desktop, and even provided reliable multitouch gesture support. Pinch-to-zoom, rotate and three-finger flicks all worked smoothly. The two discrete buttons offered just the right amount of feedback.

In addition to its touchpad, the Latitude E6430 includes another navigation option: a pointing stick between its G and H keys. While we're huge fans of the TrackPoint sticks that Lenovo puts on its ThinkPads, Dell's rubber nub sits too low relative to the keys around it, making it uncomfortable to touch. If Dell wants to continue offering pointing sticks on its business notebooks, it needs to revisit this annoying design.

Heat

The Dell Latitude E6430 stayed pleasantly cool throughout our tests. After 15 minutes of streaming a video at full screen, the touchpad measured just 80 degrees, the keyboard was a mere 82 degrees and the bottom clocked in at 87 degrees Fahrenheit (DELL 4YRJH Battery). We consider temperatures below 95 degrees comfortable.

Display and Audio

The 1600 x 900 matte 14-inch screen provided bright, sharp images and solid viewing angles, though its colors seemed muted at times. At 237 lux on our light meter, the Latitude E6430's screen is brighter than the 203 lux thin-and-light notebook category average. The configuration of the T430 we reviewed had a 1366 x 768 display, and was rather dim at 147 lux.

When we watched 1080p QuickTime trailers for both The Avengers and The Expendables 2, most images stayed true at greater than 45 degrees, though dark scenes occasionally washed out. Even viewed head-on, colors like the red in Iron Man's armor or the blue in Captain America's suit seemed dull, and blacks in particular seemed washed out and noisy.

The Latitude E6430's dual, front-facing speakers provide accurate audio that's good enough for watching videos and presentations, but not to serve as your stereo. When we played Patrice Rushen's bass-heavy Forget Me Nots, sound was clear and smooth, but not particularly rich. The Scorpions' heavy metal No One Like You did not sound distorted, but it was hollow and monotone with little separation of sound between speakers. In both cases, the maximum volume was barely loud enough to fill a room.

Ports and Webcam

Dell packs the DELL Latitude E6430 with a solid selection of ports, including some you won't find everywhere else. On the right side sits an ExpressCard/54 slot, a rarity among even business notebooks, a hardware Wi-Fi switch, an optical drive and three USB ports, two of which are USB 3.0 compatible and one of which doubles as an eSATA port.

The back houses an HDMI port, a Kensington lock slot and an Ethernet connector. The left side contains a SmartCard slot, a headphone/mic jack, a VGA port and a USB 2.0 port.

Dell Latitude E6430 WebcamClick to EnlargeThe 1.3-megapixel webcam provided sharp, noise-free images, even in low light. However, colors were bland and our face appeared shadowed, even when we were sitting in a well-lit room.

Graphics Performance

Our Latitude E6430 only had Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, so it's no gaming machine. On 3DMark11, a synthetic benchmark that measures overall graphics prowess, the E6430 scored a solid 717, which is just a little below the 755 category average.

Still, when we played World of Warcraft at default settings, the Latitude E6430 provided a good frame rate of 53 fps. Just don't expect to keep things playable with the special effects turned up; the rate dropped to 26 fps. (MSI A32-A24 Battery) 

Verdict

The Latitude E6430 has a lot going for it: strong performance, extraordinary battery life, a world-class keyboard and an attractive chassis that's designed to take some punishment. Users may want to consider the similarly-priced 14-inch ThinkPad T430, which has an even better keyboard and pointing stick and offers 3 hours of more endurance with its 9-cell battery. However, if you want a great-looking business system that packs plenty of power, the Latitude E6430 is one of your best choices.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Lenovo IdeaPad U410-MAH6MGE Computer Review, L10M4P11 7.4 V 8060mAh LAPTOP Battery

Product ID:1003092 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:7.4 V Battery Capacity:59 Wh \ 8060 mAh Battery Color:Black

LENOVO IdeaPad U410 Series Battery Life
Rechargeable Li-ion battery, LENOVO IdeaPad U410 Series, 7.4V, 8060mAh, 59Wh original computer batteries

During the L10M4P11 LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi), the Lenovo IdeaPad U410 lasted 6 hours and 32 minutes, on a par with the thin-and-light category average. The Dell Inspiron 14z and the HP Envy 4-1030us lasted 5:35 and 6:18, respectively. The Acer Aspire TimelineU M5 481TG-6814 clocked 6:27, and the Toshiba Sateliite U845 lasted 6:28.

Case

Design-wise, it is reminiscent of the company's first Ultrabook, the IdeaPad U300s, though the U410 is obviously thicker and heavier. The U410 is also available in six colors, which should satisfy consumers' need for personalization.

 

This 14-inch Ultrabook has a fairly standard mainstream configuration, including the latest Ivy Bridge ultra-low-voltage chip and a 750GB hybrid HDD with SSD cache. It also comes with discrete Nvidia graphics, though the GeForce 610M appears to be an entry-level model.

The quite elegant, fairly slim box shows the design language of attractive photographs. However, we know that from Lenovo's website and it becomes rather secondary right now... Time for unboxing. We want to check if and how the device fares in real life. Lenovo first congratulates us to our new laptop upon opening the box - very courteous! The IdeaPad U410 is freed of its tight wrappings and rests on the table a few moments later.

First and foremost, the very elegantly processed lid surface. It glistens in matte metallic when exposed to light and Lenovo's logo gleams in silver. The boast factor is kept very much within limits because the design is very reserved and minimalistic as a whole. The IdeaPad is not ultra-thin with a height of roughly 2.3 cm, but it is nevertheless very slim for a laptop. The sides' concave, so inward, surfaces strike us right away - a design feature of the IdeaPad range.

The base is made in silver aluminum. Already in a closed state we cannot help thinking that this notebook could just as well have a bitten apple on its top - the design language is so similar. However the base is a bit darker than the devices known from Cupertino. The surfaces also have a more velvety feel and the edges are pleasantly rounded. The IdeaPad U410 feels uncompromisingly good.

Opening the ultrabook disillusions us for a short moment. It is awkward and difficult to open the lid the first time. It closes flush with the concave edge and no recess or bulge is found that would enable us to lift it more easily from the bottom. Thus it will frequently happen that one hand has to keep the U410's base down while the other hand's thumb fiddles around on the narrow display edge until a gap for opening is created.

When this barrier is overcome, the lid opens smoothly and is then also kept well in position by a long hinge (extends over the keyboard's entire width). The opening angle of 145° is very adaptive to the work position. The screen is, considering its narrow build, sufficiently rigid. The case's stability, with exception of the keyboard's somewhat yielding center, is also pleasing. We will deal with the inputs later - first we will look at the connectivity.

Connectivity

The 14 version of the IdeaPad's connectivity offers almost everything that the user could want - and they are sufficiently spaced. A total of four USB ports, two of which are USB 3.0, are on the right. The other two USB 2.0 ports are installed on the left. A microphone / headphone combo jack is also on the left. The built-in microphone, SD card reader, one HDMI and one RJ45 (Gigabit LAN) port as well as the power socket are on the right. There is no Kensington lock on the IdeaPad U410 - but most potential buyers will likely survive without it.

The omitted VGA port will be missed much more since many (older) projectors and monitors still use this transmission standard. Newer devices are usually connected via HDMI.

Keyboard

The IdeaPad U410's work area looks very inviting and well-arranged. No unnecessary seeming keys for proprietary programs that are rarely used - everything is clearly arranged and made for easy use. As Einstein allegedly once said: Make things as simple as possible but not simpler. Apart from the standard keyboard keys, there is a prettily illuminated power button - that is all. By the way, this power button is regrettably the only backlit key. A few contenders, such as HP's Folio 13 or some of Asus' Zenbooks as well as the MacBook Air rivals, offer a backlit keyboard, although not at the U410's competitive pricing.(LENOVO IdeaPad U310 Series batteries)

If you can live without a backlight, you get a chiclet-style, or as Lenovo calls it in the IdeaPads, an AccuType keyboard featuring a good, crisp pressure point that is largely easy to type on. The keys' surface has a very velvety feel although they are made of hard plastic. This may sounds cheap at first, it is actually a great thing because the keys have a good feel and do not wear out as quickly as the rubberized contenders.

The layout of the keyboard's right edge is annoying and needs a bit of getting used at first. For example, to gain space for a few function keys (DEL, HOME, etc.), the width of the right shift key and all keys above it have been reduced to about 1/3 to gain space at the outermost right. This is also true for the backspace and enter key. This may not be as adverse on the still sufficiently sized enter key, but particularly the backspace key frequently leads to aggravation when typing longer texts in the beginning. Rather than triggering the desired delete, you jump back to the first row and continue to type unknowingly because the Home button was hit.

However, once you have gotten used to the layout you will likely be pleased about the pleasant typing feel.

Touchpad

Without naming anyone - you again notice where Lenovo gets its (very positive) inspirations for single design aspects of the U410 in the touchpad. However, this is beneficial for the device because we did not discover any weaknesses in the IdeaPad's mouse replacement. The touchpad's capacitive, touch-sensitive glass surface works even beyond the marked left and right click bar's areas without interruptions. For practical use this means you do not have to lift the finger for longer mouse movements and the buttons can also be used for navigating. Its silky napped surface looks like matted screens, but feels smooth when gliding over it. We never had the impression that we snagged or that we needed too much force anywhere on the touchpad. The mouse cursor navigates very accurately and intuitively to where it is wanted.

The entire touchpad is underlaid with a mouse key that is used as the left mouse key when it is pressed with a finger and as the right when two fingers are beside each other. This is quite useful for power users when they do not want to permanently leave their thumb on a click button. This manner of use makes mouse buttons superfluous anyway. Of course, it is possible to (right or left) click on the touchpad's marked areas with one finger. Lenovo's so-called Smart Sensor technology disables the touchpad while typing in order to prevent incorrect entries due to mouse movements.

Multi-touch gestures are just as numerous as functional. For example, pinch-to-zoom or two-finger scrolling responded faster and smoother than on any previous test devices that the reviewer had on his desk until now.

The wish to connect a mouse never evolved during the entire test. This is what great touchpads look like!

Display

With its Ruby Red aluminum chassis, the IdeaPad U410 is certainly a stunner. Employing Lenovo's Loop design, the U410 has gently rounded edges and an easy-to-open lid. A chrome Lenovo insignia graces the top right corner. Those looking for something more subdued can choose a Granite Gray lid, while the Aqua Blue model has just as much personality.

The notebook's silver interior, complete with a large touchpad and recessed black keyboard, is reminiscent of a MacBook Pro.The only other embellishment is a spun-metal backlit power button in the top left corner. (MSI BTY-S19 Battery) 

Weighing 4.2 pounds, the 13.5 x 9.3 x 0.8-inch IdeaPad U410 is on equal footing with the 4.2-pound, 13.7 x 9.5 x 0.83-inch Dell Inspiron 14z. The 13.4 x 9.7 x 0.81-inch Acer TimelineU M5 481TG-6814 is slightly heavier at 4.4 pounds. Those two systems, though, also have optical drives, something the U410 lacks. The 13.3 x 9.3 x 0.78-inch HP Envy 4-1030us also lacks an optical drive, and weighs in at a lighter 3.7 pounds.

Webcam

This Ultrabook's 1-MP camera delivered rich, warm color and sharp detail. There was some graininess along the edges, but not much. Using CyberLink YouCam 3, the webcam can capture stills and images in 1280 x 720.

Using Lenovo VeriFace 4.0 face recognition software, you can also log into the IdeaPad U410 with just your mug. After creating a Windows password, we were instructed to look at the webcam.

From there, a funky blue circular icon spun around our right eye in the VeriFace screen as the camera scanned our face. The software was a bit exacting, forcing us to find just the right lighting and angle for the webcam to scan our face. We prefer Toshiba's more intuitive Face Recognition software.

Speakers

Like in most slim laptops, the speakers do not enable full bass rendering - but they do a more or less good job in the IdeaPad U410. The playback of the test music's quieter sequences was silky and clear. The sound was muddier and less defined the higher the volume was set - even a bit muffled.

Talking about volume, the IdeaPad U410 can definitely be used for presentations with embedded videos. The speakers's volume easily suffice for filling medium sized rooms when there is no sound system available. The device's medium volume is louder than the tester's 15 MacBook Pro using the same setting. However, the IdeaPad's sound is not quite as detailed as the Apple device at the same volume.

There are no (good or bad) surprises here. It offers solid sound quality when using headsets or good speakers, whereby you should take care to use a combo 3.5 mm jack headphone and not 2 dedicated jacks for mic and headphone).

Verdict

Lenovo's IdeaPad U410 leaves us with a kind of love-hate feeling after the test. It is not surprising since Lenovo's device sways between ingenuity and chaos much too frequently.

We are awed by the low price, the looks, the design, the feel, the mostly good input devices (extremely good touchpad!) and the subjective impression it makes during use. The subtly refined, velvety aluminum surfaces, the rounded edges that the tester would wish for his MacBook when they once again leave deep marks on his lower arms after a longer typing session... Lenovo does a lot of things right in comparison.

But the U410 is unfortunately not the ultrabook that it could have been.

Too many inconsistencies and absurdities ruin the impression. If it is to be a portable ultrabook right from the start, why do manufacturers continue to mainly install outdoor-unsuitable screens (positive example: Zenbook UX32VD)? Why does an otherwise great keyboard that has enough room around it have to annoy users with a reduced enter and backspace key? Why does the first test device that exhibits wifi reception problems in the tester's apartment have to be an ultrabook? Why is a second, dedicated graphics card installed that usually does not even reach the IGP's performance and is doomed to vegetate, useless and disabled, sooner or later. Why is it not simply omitted and the funds used for a better screen? Or to build in a faster one to begin with?

A perfect ultrabook would not let such questions arise, and even less the idea that the manufacturer senselessly wasted materials. A perfect ultrabook makes sense - exactly the sense that we presume in the U410 at first but ultimately looked for in vain.

Nevertheless, the IdeaPad U410 is, after all philosophizing, still a darned good price-performance bundle among the ultrabooks. Weigh it up for yourself!

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Acer TravelMate P643-MG Notebook Review, AS10D3E / AS10D81 computer batteries

Product ID:1002198 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:66 Wh \ 6000 mAh Battery Color:Black

ACER TravelMate P643-M Battery Life

We saw a minimal increase in AS10D3Ebattery life compared to the predecessor. During idle, the measured run time of 580 minutes is actually shorter than the one of the predecessor 8473TG (628 minutes). The situation looks better during the WLAN test: 365 minutes, compared to 347 minutes for the 8473TG. 

The Lenovo ThinkPad T420i NW16NPB lasted an almost identical 363 minutes during the WLAN test. The Thinkpad L530 shut down after 430 minutes. The AMD-based HP ProBook 6465b could keep up reasonably well with 335 minutes. The 14-inch HP ProBook 4530s is outclassed here and only lasted 293 minutes.

Responsible for the good battery life is the 66 Wh lithium polymer battery (6000 mAh). Unfortunately, charging the battery takes very long. When the laptop is on, it takes 4:05 hours for the battery to charge completely.

Case

The chassis of the P643 Travelmate is not going to win prices for attractiveness. It's not a delicate design and the weight of 2.4 kilogram (5.29 pounds) indicates a certain heftiness, which is also apparent visually, since the notebook is 31 millimeter (1.22 inches) thick. Business users don't mind, even though the ThinkPad T420 (also 14-inch), which is also considered bulky, only weights 1.96 kilogram (4.32 pounds). Toshiba's Tecra R840-11E also weighs in at around two kilogram (4.4 pounds).

The high weight is a result of the materials used the construction of the notebook. The chassis is mostly made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, although the area around the keyboard and the display lid are manufactured from brushed aluminum. Although the look is both unobtrusive and sophisticated, fingerprints are a constant (and difficult to remove) nuisance, especially on the display lid. The display bezel is matte-black plastic and conveys that this is a serious business notebook. Fingerprints or scratches don't have a chance here, nor on the underside of the notebook (which is made from the same material).

The matte surface areas appear to be tough and resilient. The high torsional rigidity of the chassis, the display lid, and the quality of the hinges, also contribute to this impression of toughness. We wouldn't have thought it possible, but the silver hinges Acer uses are indeed massive. They hold the display lid firmly, without any rocking motion, and in any position. When the display lid is opened to the maximum angle, it hits a very firm stop.

When we examined the predecessor TravelMate TimelineX 8473TG, we found the area around the optical drive to be the weakest point of the notebook, as far as stability is concerned. This has now been rectified, as pressure applied to the keyboard (Enter key) or on the bottom does not cause deformation any longer. The lid is fairly thin but still quite rigid due to the aluminum surface. It also resists pressure well. There is no lock on the lid - this seems to be one of the last bastions of pro-business laptops (T-series, HP EliteBook, DELL Latitude).

There is a big cover (secured by five screws) on the bottom of the laptop. Underneath there are the HDD in a rubber bracket, two slots for the DDR3 RAM (one occupied), and one mini PCIe slot that is not used. This spot could hold a 3G module, although a slot for a SIM card or integrated antennas are missing.

A second, diminutive cover allows access to the WLAN-module with two antennas. The ends of the antennas are terminated above the display (Acer SignalUp). The docking port for the Acer ProDock, and the multi-bay DVD drive, are distinguishing features a business laptop offers. A rail mechanism allows the drive to be removed while the laptop is in use.

We also identified water channels for the keyboard on the bottom of the laptop. Accidental spills are supposed to drain at this location. What we have never seen on an Acer before is an opening to clean the fan system. Pressurized air applied in this location cleans the dust of the heat sink at the end of the heatpipe.

Connectivity

Compared to the predecessor 8473TG, Acer has modified the port selection mostly for the better. Instead of one USB 3.0 port there are now three, the eSATA port is missing, but a ExpressCard/34 slot is now included. Business laptops for professional still tend to offer this slot, so users can use the cards they might already have. As of right now, the following cards are available for purchase: controller for FireWire, serial port, and eSATA. TV tuner cards, which have fallen out of favor, are also still available.

We don't particularly like the location of the ports on the sides. Unless a docking station is used, cables crowd the table on the left (HDMI all the way in the front) and on the right (USB ports). The card reader in its elevated position on the front, and the WLAN switch in the same location are handy, however. (DELL Inspiron M301ZR batteries)

Keyboard

Acer continues to use the floating keyboard of the predecessor. The spaces between the keys are very small and the keyboard leaves a very homogeneous impression. The feedback manages to impress. Key travel is ample, impact firm, and the keyboard does not flex anywhere. Typing accuracy is improved because the keys are slightly concave (lower in the middle). This is a feature usually seen on desktop keyboards. We didn't like that fingers get caught fairly easily on the hard edges of the keys. Even though this hampers feedback, it has no negative impact on typing speed.

The layout poses no problems. None of the keys are undersized (good-sized Enter, Shift, and Ctrl keys); the arrow key are separated from the other keys. The Ctrl and Del keys are in the corners so new Travelmate-customers can get acclimated quickly. A keyboard backlight is not available.

Touchpad

The touchpad is from Synaptics (V7.5) and recessed fairly deep into the palm rest. This can be distracting at times. The slightly rough surface allows for precise control of the cursor. The touchpad supports multitouch-gestures and has a vertical scrollbar, which is no marked. The mouse buttons offer clear tactile feedback. The long travel allows for easy and quick control. The buttons are made out of smooth plastic, but since they give a bit, they feel almost rubberized. Overall the touchpad is a pleasure to use.

Display

The non-glare 14-inch display has a a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio). No other resolution is available for either the 14-inch and the 15.6-inch Travelmate models. Considering how many screen options the HP ProBooks and the Lenovo ThinkPads offer, this certainly leaves to be desired. Demanding users need to look at the Lenovo ThinkPad T420 or HP ProBook 6460b, both of which offer a resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels. (ACER AS10D56 batteries) 

We tested the backlit LED display with the Gossen Mavo-Montior. With a maximum brightness of only 195 cd/m2, the TN panel is on par with affordable consumer notebooks. Brightness distribution (87%) is just good enough to avoid bright or dark spots. On a completely white screen, the uneven distribution would be noticeable.

Deep blacks and vivid colors are not the forte of the Travelmate. The extremely low contrast ratio of 138:1 causes pale, washed out colors. A higher contrast would certainly improve the outdoor experience. Photos and movies don't look very good, unless the user has never experienced a better panel.

Color space is critical for professionals and impacts their decision on which TFT panel to get (TOSHIBA PA3928U-1BRS batteries). The display should be able to accurately reproduce as many colors of the spectra as possible. sRGB and AdobeRGB are the most commonly used ones, neither one of which the P643 with its run-of-the-mil panel can reproduce (photos 1 & 2). The predecessor 8473T didn't fair any better since it's using the same panel (photo 3). The comparison in the second row of pictures shows what a good color space can look like.

The 14-inch notebook fails to convince outside. As long as it's overcast, and the user remains right in front of the display, brightness is OK. The average brightness level of 184 cd/m2 is not suitable for really bright surroundings. The non-glare display certainly limits disturbing reflections in the work environment. The P643 does not come with an ambient light sensor to control screen brightness automatically.

Color changes and inversions happen either fairly quick (vertical) or a bit slower (horizontal). Viewing angles are generally quite limited. Looking at photos or watching a movie is certainly no fun at all for anybody outside the very limited sweet spot. Ghosting and blurry contours are the result. 

It should be noted that notebooks in this price range don't usually have decent viewing angles. Only more expensive units like the MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012, ThinkPad T530, or the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A Ultrabook proof how much better an IPS or a very good TN panel can look.

Speakers

The integrated mono speaker is not very good, but that's acceptable for a business laptop. Bass is lacking, lows are muddled. Since Acer didn't even include stereo speakers, we recommend external solutions hooked up via the headphone jack, HDMI, or Bluetooth for those seeking better sound quality.

Verdict

In the beginning of our review, we asked if a Travelmate could compete with a Thinkpad. This was not just a rhetorical question. For a very affordable price, Acer has managed to offer a low-cost ThinkPad alternative. While Lenovo offers countless configurations at higher prices (for example HD+ Display, SSD, Core i7), Acer only has one standard configuration. But the lone configuration delivers.

The TravelMate P643 is able to keep up with a ThinkPad basic (L and T series) as far as performance is concerned. The Geforce GT 640M offers plenty of performance for the home user and casual gamer. For CAD/CAM software, the NVS 5400M (T530) would be a better choice. Build quality and sturdiness are convincing (magnesium chassis). The pretty extensive security and administration software suite seems to be useful for the small business owner. (SONY VGP-BPSC27 batteries) 

In other areas, the Acer falls a bit behind Lenovo, input devices being one of them. Aside from the missing trackpoint, the differences are negligible though. Lenovo also offers a Mini DisplayPort and FireWire400. As far as battery life is concerned, the T530, which comes with a 93 Wh battery, is far superior. The basic version only offers a six-cell battery, which should level the playing ground.

A T-series ThinkPad plays in a different league. The TravelMate P643-MG is certainly able to compete with the less expensive L-series in most areas and beat it in some (gaming performance). Even though ThinkPad fans and Lenovo insiders won't like it: Acer created a business laptop that is able to keep up with a ThinkPad in the 800 Euro price bracket. Above that price level, the ThinkPads reign supreme.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review ASUS U47A Notebook, A32-U47 / A42-U47 computer batteries

Product ID:1003071 Battery Type:Li-ion Property: original computer batteries Battery Voltage:10.8V or 11.25V Battery Capacity:5200 mAh Battery Color:Black

ASUS Li-ion battery pack A32-U47 Rating 10.8 or 11.25V 5200mAh original computer batteries 

Asus has unveiled the U47A, an ultraportable laptop based on Intel’s next-generation Ivy Bridge processor. Thanks to thin bezels, the U47 boasts a sizable14-inch display within a thin-and-light 13-inch shell.

The great power of the ASUS U47A is matched by its looks, which center on an ultra-thin profile less than 1” thick. By using aluminum, engineers have been able to achieve a light notebook that weighs under 2Kg, while retaining extreme durability for those who are always on the move. 

This strength extends to the screen, which uses reinforced glass to resist pressure and damage: also ideal for travelers. Adding an artistic touch, the aluminum cover presents a finely-etched brushed hairline finish, while the keyboard uses a seamless one-piece design for an improved tactile experience that is also more precise and reliable. Further meticulous engineering has resulted in a very thin bezel (or margin) around the 14” screen (ASUS A42-U47 batteries), allowing it to fit in a chassis smaller than many 13”-paneled notebooks. The U47A may not look as sleek as razor-thin Ultrabooks such as the Asus UX31, but it’s certainly more portable than many midsize laptops. (The 14-inch HP Envy, for example, seems downright heavy now at 5.6 pounds, and even the Dell XPS 14z, which is another ultraportable that squeezes a 14-inch display in a smaller 13-inch chassis, weighs more than the U47, at 4.4 pounds.)

Besides portability, the ASUS U47A offers attractive configuration options, according to Notebook Italia. In addition to Core i5 or Core i7 processors, the laptop supports up to 8GB of memory and hard drive storage of up to 1TB. 

You’ll also be able to equip the ASUS U47A with a dedicated Nvidia GeForce video card. Factor in the DVD writer and the eight hours of battery life, and the ASUS U47 looks like a laptop designed for power users. The display, however, is your typical 1366-by-768-pixels resolution.

While offering superior multimedia, the ASUS U47A was designed with extensive business and professional use in mind, and is thus a smooth multitasker. It comes with a slew of features that support presentations and information sharing, plus offers an always attractive notebook that looks great in even the most formal occasions. The screen is especially important, using anti-glare materials for better viewing by several people and fingerprint resistance to keep it neat and clear. The clickpad has been enhanced with more intuitive gesture input, and for a full day’s work, the battery can readily last up to 8 hours, so you don’t need to interrupt your productivity with hassle-some recharging sessions.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu