Sony VAIO VPC-F121GX

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• Pros

  Backlit keyboard. Quad-core processor. Blu-ray included. Great user experience. 2 year Costco warranty. Lightweight, for a media center.

• Cons

  Plain design. Basic graphics card for the price. Need bigger battery.

• Bottom Line

  The Sony VAIO VPC-F121GX is a compact media center with good performance chops, but the sum of its parts doesn't justify the premium price.

Earlier this year, Sony made the VAIO F-Series—of which we reviewed the Sony VAIO VPC-F1190X ($1,645 direct, )—its fastest laptop. It did so by putting in an Intel quad-core processor and all the trimmings, including a wireless transfer technology called TransferJet. Like all of Sony's laptops, there are variations to this media center laptop. The Sony VAIO VPC-F121GX ($1,199 list), available at Costco, is basically the entry-level version and the more subdued of the bunch, lacking TransferJet and taking performance down a notch. Still, it's currently the fastest laptop in Sony's arsenal, but it's not the same caliber as the Dell Studio 17 (Multitouch) ($1,411 direct, ).

Design
Sony hasn't done much trail blazing with laptop designs beyond ultraportables (i.e. the Sony VAIO Z116GSX ($1,800 direct, )). Aside from two color options (black and gray), the F121GX is basically a big chunk of plastic that lacks any kind of design appeal. You could argue that design appeal isn't in the best interest of an oversized laptop, but that didn't stop the Acer Aspire AS8943G-6782 ($1,599 street, ) and HP Pavilion dv7-4071nr ($1,029.98 list, ) from using sleek aluminum, or the Dell Studio 17 from offering over 200 different lid designs. To its credit, though, the F121FX (6.5 lbs) travels lighter than the Dell 17 (8.6 lbs), Acer AS8943G (8.2 lbs), and HP dv7-4071nr (8 lbs)—albeit with the smallest screen in this group.

Its 16.4-inch widescreen is not as common as the 17-inch and 18-inch one found in the Dell Studio 17 and Acer AS8943G. This particular one has a 1,600-by-900 resolution, whereas if you buy it through Sony's Website, a 1,920 by 1,080 (1080p) option is available. Systems like the Dell Studio 17 and Acer AS8943G also have 1080p resolutions, while the HP dv7-4071nr maxes out at 1,600 by 900.

Most of Sony's laptops have transitioned over to an isolated keyboard layout made popular by companies like Apple and Acer, and the F121GX is no exception. It offers a great typing experience, enhanced further by the backlit function (for dimly lit rooms) and an adjacent numeric keypad. The Dell Studio 17 has a traditional-style keyboard (and a more comfortable one at that), and it, too, has a backlit keyboard.

There isn't anything fancy about the touchpad or mouse buttons, like the all-in-one "clickpads" found in the HP dv7-4071nr and Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch (Unibody) ($2,799 direct, ); the ones that come with the F121GX simply works and works well with any combination of fingers.

Features
The F121GX doesn't include Sony's Transfer Jet, a proprietary, short-range wireless technology that works in tandem with Sony devices such as digital cameras and printers. So far, this technology is limited to several CyberShot digital cameras (a USB solution will also be available and plugs into supported Sony HDTVs and digital photo frames). It's one of those technologies that you can add to the F-Series from Sony's Website, but you won't find it on this particular model.

A Blu-ray reader is a Sony specialty, but it's not limited to the F121GX: The Dell Studio 17 and Acer AS8943G have them as well. With it, you can watch all the latest flicks in full 1080p glory, whether it's on the laptop screen or transmitted to an HDTV, via the included HDMI port. The included 500GB hard drive is spacious, but a faster one (7,200rpm) can be had if you ordered through Sony's Website. The rest of the connectivity ports—eSATA (doubles as a USB port), FireWire, separate Memory Stick and SD slots, optical audio out, and ExpressCard—are all standard Sony features.

A 2-year warranty is the best part about buying a laptop from Costco, given that many retailers and parent companies only offer a year's worth. The F121GX includes Costco's Concierge Services, a free service to Costco members who purchase electronics at the store. The service gives you access to technicians who can walk you through system setup and troubleshoot any problems. Lastly, the store accepts returns within 90 days, and there's no need to bring your receipt; just present your Costco Club card, since all your purchases are stored there.

Performance
Performance trumps all else, since the F121GX is built around speedy parts. Like its predecessor, it runs a mobile quad-core processor—in this case, a 1.73GHz Intel Core i7-740QM. It's a grade better than the 1.6GHz Intel Core i7-720QM processor found in the Dell Studio 17, Acer AS8943G, and HP dv7-4071nr. Combined with 4GB of RAM, the F121GX topped its rivals in tests that measure pure speed, such as Windows Media Encoder (46 seconds) and Cinebench R10 (10,851).

Its graphics chip, however, wasn't as powerful. In fact, it's the kind you would find in lower-cost desktop replacements like the Samsung R580 ($850 list, ), so it fell short in gaming tests like 3DMark06 (4,252), Crysis (20.6 fps), and World in Conflict (20 fps). PCMark Vantage results (5,916) were also in the bottom two, since there is a 3D component in this test.

It gets worse with battery life. Poor battery stamina was forgivable a year ago when every other media center laptop didn't bother with big batteries (they were confined to a desk anyway). These days, more media centers are hitting the road despite their colossal footprints. Systems like the Dell Studio 17 (which scored 4 hours 23 minutes on MobileMark 2007), Acer AS8943G (4:09), and HP dv7-4071nr (3:42) include huge batteries (>85WH). The F121GX, on the other hand, ships with a 54WH (6-cell). So it was no surprise that its 3 hours 33 minutes on MobileMark 2007 was the worst score in this group.

There is really only one reason why the Sony VAIO VPC-F121GX might be your next media center laptop: It's one of the lightest ones available if you absolutely need quad-core processing on the road. Otherwise, the drab design, subpar graphics, and small battery aren't worth the $1,200 Costco special. You're better off customizing a Dell Studio 17 to your specific needs or go all out with the Acer Aspire AS8943G-6782.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS
Check out the test scores for the Sony VAIO VPC-F121GX

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• Pros

  Well-executed, elegant bamboo design. Fastest Core i3 processor yet. Two GPUs built-in. 500GB hard drive. Intel's WiDi present.

• Cons

  Cursor jumps from time to time. Heat detectable in the base. Nvidia GPU didn't reach its full potential. Missing optical drive might be a deal breaker for some.

• Bottom Line

  The Asus U33Jc-A1 is a mainstream laptop made out of bamboo, packed with an Intel Core i3 processor and Nvidia's Optimus technology.

The Asus U33Jc-A1 ($999 street) is a standout among the ever-growing crowd of laptop look-alikes. Portions of this laptop are made of bamboo, the same stuff pandas eat, but polished to look like a stained hardwood floor. Bamboo is environmentally friendly, durable, and in some cases, fire proof, but no one other than Asus has dared to use this material on a laptop. A speedy Intel Core i3 processor and two GPUs that leverage Nvidia's Optimus technology lie beneath the bamboo frame. If you can get by without an optical drive and put up with some warmth from the system's base, you can have a laptop that blends in with your antique furniture.

Design
This is not the first time Asus has taken everyday materials and fused them with its laptops. The U2E-A2B ($2,499 list, ) was the first leather-clad laptop, and the company is clearly a big proponent of sleek aluminum metal, as shown by the U30Jc-1A ($899 street, ), UL80Vt-A1 ($823 street, ), and UL50VF-A1 ($850 street, ). I've reviewed Asus designs that use foam, synthetic fabric, and even denim cloth, so you can understand why a tough, eco-friendly substance like bamboo would fit into its design scheme. The lid and palm rest areas are covered in it, accented by chrome trimmings and treated with a maple stain that brings new meaning to the word "elegant."

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The frame is as rigid as the aluminum Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz) ($1,199 direct, ) and Asus U30Jc-A1, though it's thicker and heavier than expected despite purging the optical drive. At 4.5 pounds, it's about as heavy as the MacBook Pro 13-inch (4.5 lbs), HP Pavilion dm4-1063cl ($900 list, ) (4.4 lbs), and U30Jc-1A (4.7 lbs)—laptops with built-in DVD burners.

Specifications

Type

Gaming, General Purpose, Media

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Processor Name

Intel Core i3-370M

Processor Speed

2.4 GHz

RAM

4 GB

Weight

4.5 lb

Screen Size

13.3 inches

Screen Size Type

widescreen

Graphics Card

Intel GMA HD

Storage Capacity

500 GB

Networking Options

802.11n

Primary Optical Drive

External

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Bordering the screen with bamboo would have been overkill, which was why Asus used black plastic borders around its 13.3-inch widescreen. An edge-to-edge glass screen, like the one found in the MacBook Pro 13-inch, would have been the higher-end alternative. The 1,366 by 768 resolution is nothing to write home about, as it's regularly used by mainstream laptops

Asus is also quite fond of the chiclet-style keyboards. The full size keyboard in the U33Jc-A1 lacks the backlit function of the MacBook Pro, and while the touchpad and mouse buttons looked exquisite in bamboo, the cursor jumped from time to time. You can, however, adjust the touchpad's sensitivity levels under the mouse settings, in the control panel. Aside from these minor peeves, the typing and navigating experience served me well.

Features
Omitting the optical drive was a bit of a surprise. Given the thickness and weight of the laptop, it seems like it should have one. It has the usual selection of ports, including 3 USB, HDMI, multimedia card reader, and Ethernet. It comes with a 500GB hard drive, which is bigger than the 320GB one found in the Asus U30Jc-A1 and Dell Inspiron 14R ($820 direct, ).

Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) is a feature you'll be seeing more of in laptops, as it needs no cables to extend the desktop environment to an HDTV or any external flat panel. The U33Jc-A1 is one of the first Asus laptops to integrate WiDi, though you'll need to buy a separate Netgear Push2TV receiver ($100 at Best Buy) that connects to the external panel. WiDi is also available in the Toshiba Portégé R705-P25 ($800 street, ) and the Dell 14R. A two year global warranty is the icing on the cake, as this feature is standard on most Asus branded laptops.

Performance
The U33Jc-A1 runs on a 2.4GHz Intel Core i3-370M processor, a step up from the 2.27GHz 350M found in the U30Jc-1A and R705-P25. It boosted video encoding (47 seconds) and Cinebench R10 (7,923) scores to the level of a Core i5 processor-equipped laptop. The Core i5 processors found in the Lenovo IdeaPad Y460 ($1,049 direct, ) and HP dm4-1063cl are speedier on paper, although it would be difficult to notice these differences in the real world. The real world gap is further narrowed by 4GB of DDR3 memory, which is a standard configuration in many Asus laptops.

Laptops that switch between two graphics chipsets are also on the rise. With Asus, it started with the UL50VF-1A, followed by the U30Jc-A1, and now the U33Jc-A1. The switch is made possible by Nvidia's Optimus technology, which automatically makes the switch to the appropriate graphics chip, based on the application the user is running. Laptops like the Y460 and the dm4-1063 also utilize two graphics chips, but the switch is done manually through an ATI-proprietary utility.

One of the two graphics chips is the mighty Nvidia GeForce 310M, the same one found in the U30Jc-1A, except with more video memory (now 1GB). Unfortunately, the U33Jc-A1 trailed in every one of our gaming benchmark tests—3DMark06, Crysis, and World in Conflict. Among its peers, which run on similar midrange graphics cards, the U33Jc-A1 fared the worst. According to Asus, the 310M in my test unit was slightly under-clocked (605 MHz versus 625). I suspect that insufficient cooling played a role in cranking down GPU power, since the system was already running warmer than the U30Jc-1A, particularly on the left side of the base (95-99 degrees Fahrenheit).

Battery life also didn't live up to its namesake. Even though they have identical batteries, the U33Jc-A1 (6 hours 34 minutes) trailed the U30Jc-A1 (8 hours) by a significant margin. The higher-clocked processor and insufficient cooling could very well explain why the battery drained quicker. Of course, 6.5 hours of battery life isn't a huge knock against this unit, though, since it outlasted similar systems like the Toshiba R705-P25 (6:20), HP dm4-1063cl (5:01), and Lenovo Y460 (4:52). It's just unfortunate that the U30Jc-1A set the bar for battery fortitude.

The Asus U33Jc-A1's craftmanship deserves every design accolade imaginable, but it's hard not to draw comparisons to the similarly configured U30Jc-A1, the current Editors' Choice. You're basically paying a $100 premium for the bamboo design and trading in the optical drive for a minor bump in processor speed and hard drive capacity. Omitting an optical drive, having an under-clocked GPU, and running hot at the base are signs of insufficient cooling, you can only wonder, is the use of bamboo to blame? Who knows. What I do know is that the U33Jc-A1 is a beautifully made laptop, but the U30Jc-A1 is the better overall machine.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS
Check out the test scores for the Asus U33Jc-A1

Toshiba Portégé R705-P25

By Cisco Cheng

Back in the day when ultraportable laptops were seductively thin and outrageously priced, Toshiba had the Portégé R200 ($2,099 list, )—the lightest 12-inch ultraportable in its class. Since then, there have been some minor tweaks, a component swap here and there, but nothing nearly as dramatic as Toshiba's latest creation. The Toshiba Portégé R705-P25 ($800 street) is still one of lightest ultraportables with optical drives in its class, only now it has a 13-inch widescreen, a redesigned keyboard, and built-in technology that makes the original R200 look like a fossil. Oh, and the $2,000 you paid for the R200 is now $800 at your local Best Buy.

Toshiba America Inc

http://www.toshiba.com

• Price as Tested: $800.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Ultraportable, Value, Small Business
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i3 M350
• Processor Speed: 2.27 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 3.1 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 500 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

HP Pavilion dv6-3033cl ($899.99 list)

• Pros

  Fast Core i5 processor. Fast hard drive. Above average battery scores. Sleek, metallic design. Lightweight. Blu-ray drive included. 2 year Costco warranty.

• Cons

  Erratic click touchpad. Integrated graphics only.

• Bottom Line

  A desktop replacement tailored to video editors, the HP Pavilion dv6-3033cl is fast and comes with a Blu-ray drive.

HP is the biggest purveyor of metal-clad laptops, even outnumbering the offerings from Apple and Asus. The HP Pavilion dv6-3033cl ($899.99 list), available at Costco, is among the growing bunch that uses this sleek, lightweight, and remarkably durable material. This system is an ideal fit for budding video editors and film buffs, thanks to a powerful Intel Core i5 processor and built-in Blu-ray drive.

Design
The dv6-3033cl is arguably the best looking design to ever bear the Pavilion name. The frame is derived from aluminum metal, which is the same stuff used in the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Core i5) ($1,799 direct, ) and Asus UL50VF-A1 ($850 street, ). Metal-clad laptops are also among the lightest, as the dv6-3033cl (5.3 lbs), MacBook Pro 15-inch (5.5 lbs), and UL50VF-1A (5.2 lbs) weigh just over 5 pounds. They're also more scratch- and smudge-resistant than the plastic-coated cases found on the Gateway NV59C09u ($800 list, ) and Samsung R580 ($830 list, ).

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The 15.6-inch widescreen doesn't quite deliver the cinematic experience as the HP Pavilion dv7-4053cl's ($830 list, ) 17.3-inch does, but a smaller screen is less burdensome on the road. It's as big and bright as the screen found on the R580, UL50VF-1A, and NV59C09u. This 15-inch group also shares a common 1,368 by 768 resolution, which, in high definition lingo, is capped at 720p.

The dv6-3033cl now sports the new chiclet format, where every key is isolated and generously spaced apart, so that even those with the portliest fingers won't complain. The new keyboard is accompanied by a new touchpad that clicks. In other words, the mouse buttons are integrated into the touchpad like those of the MacBook Pro 15-inch, though their navigating experiences couldn't be more different.

The cursor jumps frequently when two fingers are placed on the click touchpad. Those who use the tapping feature or surf with a single finger aren't affected. HP has already issued a driver patch that alleviates some of the erratic behavior, but it's far from fully fixed.

Features
The dv6-3033cl includes a terrific balance of ports, slots, and connectivity options. The 4 USB ports are spread apart, so that no two peripherals will get in the way of each other. One of the USB ports doubles as an eSATA port, in case you want take storage beyond the included 500GB hard drive.

For performance enthusiasts, the 500GB drive spins at 7,200 rpm when laptops like the Gateway NV59C09u and Samsung R580 have 5,400 rpm drives. The included Blu-ray drive is a real treat for high-definition fanatics, and it also doubles as a DVD burner and player, in case you have a mix of DVD and Blu-ray content. However, the Samsung R580 ($830) and Gateway NV59C09u ($800) are including this same drive for less.

A 2-year warranty is the best part about buying a laptop from Costco, given that many retailers and parent companies only offer a year's worth. The dv6-3033cl includes Costco's Concierge Services, a free service to Costco members who purchase electronics at the store. The service gives you access to technicians who can walk you through system setup and troubleshoot any problems. Lastly, the store accepts returns within 90 days, and there's no need to bring your receipt; just present your Costco Club card, since all your purchases are stored on it.

Performance
Video and photo editing are processor and memory intensive tasks, which are where the dv6-3033cl's 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-450M processor and 4GB of DDR3 memory come in handy. It's a marginally faster combination than the one found in the Samsung R580 (Core i5, 4GB DDR3), and much faster than that of the Gateway NV59C09u (Core i3, 4GB DDR3) and Asus UL50VF-1A (Core i3, 4GB DDR3). Our video encoding test was a good indicator, as the dv6-3033cl took 47 seconds to complete it—tops among this group. Tests like Cinebench R10 (7,911) and PCMark Vantage (5,171) factor in overall system performance, and the dv6-3033cl had little trouble zipping through them, placing second behind the Samsung R580.

What the dv6-3033cl doesn't include (and the Samsung R580 does) is a decent 3D graphics chip. The lack of one would explain why PCMark Vantage tests trailed the Samsung R580 and why it wouldn't be a good candidate for hardcore gamers. However, Intel's integrated chipset is a perfectly fine solution for non-3D intensive games, and it handled Blu-ray playback beautifully.

It's also a more energy-efficient solution than laptops that run exclusively on ATI or Nvidia chips. Case in point: The dv6-3033cl tallied a better battery score (4 hours, 29 minutes) than the R580 (3:42) and NV59C09u (3:42). Laptops like the HP dv7-4053cl (7:06) and Asus UL50VF-1A (7:55) came with bigger batteries, and thus better battery scores.

Touchpad kinks aside, the HP Pavilion dv6-3033cl ($899.99 Costco) is priced very reasonably for a desktop replacement that can sift through video encodes and playback Blu-ray flicks. Very few laptops are willing to give you a sleek metal design at these prices. If you don't mind the thick plastics, the Samsung R580 ($830 at Best Buy) is a better deal, throwing in a comparable Core i5 processor, Blu-ray drive, and an Nvidia gaming chip.

Acer Aspire 1830T-3721's physical footprin

By Cisco Cheng

Although the Acer Aspire 1830T-3721's physical footprint—3-pound frame and 11.6-inch widescreen—fits the description of a netbook, its $700 (street) price tag would say otherwise. This ultraportable is actually a CULV laptop, as the Core i5-430um is part of Intel's newest Consumer Ultra Low Voltage processors and the primary reason why it's so much more expensive than an Atom-based netbook. It's speedy, yet energy-efficient, pumping out over 8 hours of battery life. World travelers who question the performance of a netbook should no doubt consider this as their next laptop.

Acer Inc.

http://www.acer.com

• Price as Tested: $700.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Ultraportable, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i5-430um
• Processor Speed: 1.2 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 3 lb
• Screen Size: 11.6 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 500 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External

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Dell Inspiron 1464-Black

Core i3-330M, 2GB DDR3, 320GB HDD, DVD±RW, NIC, WiFi, Bluetooth, VGA ATi Radeon HD4330 512MB, Camera, 14″ WXGA, Win7 Home Basic

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