It manages to be quite comfortable when you hold it in your hands but some might say that it is a little bit too wide and it also feels kind of odd when trying to type on it while at the same time holding it. You might also be bothered by the fact that the bezel is not entirely flush with the tablet’s outer casing so there is a bit of an edge which can be annoying for some people.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Source: androidincanada.ca)

When you hold the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 in landscape, you will notice that the top edge has five features (left to right): power & sleep button, volume rocker, microSD card slot (up to 32GB), IR blaster, along with the headphone jack. Sitting vertically along the tablet’s left and right bezel are two speakers that measures two inches long. At the bottom edge sit the microphone pinhole and the dock connector.

While the original model had a two megapixel front-facing camera, the Tab 2 sports only a VGA camera. The back of the tablet still holds the three megapixel camera but this time Samsung decided to ditch the LED flash. Another bad news is the lack of an HDMI port which might bother some people.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com)

This would have to be the second tablet from Samsung, after the Tab 2 7.0, which runs as standard with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3). On top of Google’s OS is the TouchWiz UX interface developed by the Korean company which comes bundled with several of the company’s applications Media Hub, Music Hub, built-in screenshot application, Game Hub, along with the Mini Apps tray which sits at the screen’s bottom.

Remember the IR blaster we’ve talked about when we reviewed the Tab 2 7.0? It has found its way on the Tab 2 10.1, working together with Peel’s Smart Remote application which will allow you to transform the tablet in a remote control for the TV. With Peel you can replace the satellite or cable channel guide and it can display a list of the shows that are currently playing locally on the channels of the cable or satellite providers.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Source: blog.laptopmag.com)

We appreciate that Peel comes with a step-by-step setup wizard which will help you a lot if you haven’t used the application before. This setup only needs the name of the TV’s manufacturer, ZIP code and the cable or satellite provider. We should warn you though that Smart Remote will not work with regular monitors so you can use it only with either TVs or monitor/TV combos.

After the setup process has ended, you will be able to browse shows by category or you can even mark some of the shows as favorites. In addition, the user has the possibility of preventing the shows that he/she doesn’t want to see on the list. It is important to mention that Smart Remote can now synchronize with over-the-air listings, but some users have complained that the accuracy is not very good. Although navigating the interface might take a little bit of time at first, after a while you will most likely get the hang of it and appreciate how the UI was created.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Source: techfond.com)

Let’s move on to the hardware features of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and mention that it is powered by a dual core OMAP 4430 processor running at 1.0 GHz. It packs 1GB of RAM and comes with 16GB of storage. Some of the other hardware features worth mentioning include GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, digital compass, accelerometer and a gyroscope. Those speakers we’ve mentioned earlier do get quite loud, but the quality could have been better.

Just like the first version, the Tab 2 10.1 features a PLS-based panel that runs at the resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels, which is quite normal for a tablet that has a 10-inch screen. The clarity level is just as good as it was before so nothing to complain in this department. While you are swiping through the available screens or when you are navigating through the menus, this screen feels just as responsive as some of the best Android screens available. You will certainly appreciate the fact that the applications launch without any sort of delay.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Source: 7.mshcdn.com)

The difference between the front-facing cameras of the Tab 2 tablets is obvious, in favor of the first model. As for the rear 3 mpx camera, this does a better job but even so the pictures are a little bit washed out and don’t have enough contrast and detail. The first Tab 10.1 needed more time to focus but the good thing is that it took far better pictures in comparison to its successor.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has no problems at running 720p videos, while 1080p videos will work well only if the video file is not very large. If you want a smooth 1080p video playback, regardless of the size of the file, you might want to look for those Tegra 3-powered tablets which don’t have any issues at playing a full HD video.

As far as the battery is concerned, just as you would expect it drains quite fast so in just several hours you will have to plug the tablet in if you want to keep using it.

All things considered, we were quite disappointed with the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 since in many areas it was outperformed by its predecessor. For the money you’re paying for this model you could order the Asus Transformer Pad TF30 which has a quad core processor, a better rear camera and also microHDMI.

At the heart of the Asus G75VW-AS71 is an Intel Core i7-3610QM processor running at 2.30 GHz and packs no less than 12GB of DDR3 memory clocked at 1,333 MHz. For storage you get a speedy and spacious 750GB SATA HDD rotating at 7,200 rpm. As for the chipset, we’re dealing with a Mobile Intel PM55 Express, while the OS is the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium. In the graphics department we find an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M.

Asus G75VW-AS71 (Source: farm8.staticflickr.com)

The Asus G75VW-AS71 measures 16.3 x 12.6 x 0.9 – 2.0 inches (W x D x H) and it weighs 9.5 pounds or 11.7 pounds if we take into consideration the AC adapter. Given the respectable curb weight of the laptop, most likely you will keep it on the desk as this is certainly not a lap-friendly notebook, not only because of its size but also due to the high curb weight.

The interior of the laptop doesn’t have any interesting features as you will only find a roomy touchpad, the power/quick-launch buttons and a bunch of status indicator lights. Taking into consideration that there is a lot of keyboard tray space available, it’s no wonder that the laptop’s raised backlit keyboard and the adjacent numpad are far apart, while in-between these two are the directional arrow buttons. You will appreciate that the key travel is not only crisp but also quite comfortable. Since it is a big laptop, there’s a lot of palm-rest space and we like that this area has a smooth finish which makes the typing experience more comfortable.

Asus G75VW-AS71 (Source: asset3.cbsistatic.com)

Below the keyboard you will find the multitouch touchpad that is bigger than the average size in this segment, featuring a rubberized finish and discrete buttons. Just like most of the Windows-running laptops, performing multitouch gestures is not as smooth as it is on a MacBook from Apple.

Perhaps one of the best features of the laptop would have to be its impressive 17.3-inch display that has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. This screen wears a matte coating and the viewing angles are exceptional. We should also mention that it is a very bright screen, even though it doesn’t have a glossy coating like most of today’s laptops have. The colors on the screen pop while watching a Blu-ray movie is a very enjoyable experience. However, we don’t have the same nice words to say about the quality of the construction around this display but many of you won’t really care about this.

Sitting above the keyboard under a metal grille are the stereo speakers, while on the underside is a subwoofer. This audio system manages to provide a booming and big sound, but the quality is not as high as it is on those laptops that have premium speakers. Even so, it provides plenty of oomph for when you are playing a game.

Asus G75VW-AS71 (Source: files.technoblogs.webnode.com)

As far as ports and connections are concerned, the Asus G75VW-AS71 has been fitted with VGA out, an HDMI port and Thunderbolt, while in the audio area it has the traditional headphone and microphone jacks. For data you get four USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader, while in the networking area it has Bluetooth, an Ethernet port and 802.11n Wi-Fi. Also on board is a Blu-ray player.

This would have to be one of the most affordable versions of the Asus G75VW-AS71, because there are other models with 16GB of DDR3 RAM, a 1.5TB hard drive or SSDs, along with a beefier Intel Core i7-3720 and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 670M.

With the aforementioned Intel Core i7-2670QM and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M GPU, the laptop is able to run Metro at 14.3 fps at the native resolution of the screen (1,920 x 1,080 pixels, full HD) with the graphics settings at high. You won’t have any issues playing games like Portal 2, Batman: Arkham City at the same resolution and with the high settings on. It isn’t as fast as the Origin EON17-S gaming laptop but we should remind you that this one carries a retail price tag of no less than $3,499.

Asus G75VW-AS71 (Source: shopoola.com)

Since this is a powerful gaming laptop, don’t expect to get an impressive battery life from the Asus G75VW-AS71. In a video playback drain test it should last for a little over two hours, which is just about the same as the performance of other gaming laptops that have similar hardware specifications.

The laptop is sold with an industry standard one-year warranty and on the company’s website as well as on the Republic of Gamers portal you will find all of the drivers and support that you need. Compared to last year’s model, the new iteration brings newer processors in a slightly thinner chassis, but the price tag is still a bit steep, even though the Asus G75VW-AS71 is a lot cheaper than those high-end gaming laptops which cost a small fortune. Compared to the Sandy Bridge processors found in the previous model, the new CPUs based on the Ivy Bridge platform are approximately 20% faster in multitasking when it comes down to this model, while the new GPU should be enough for most users, even though it isn’t one of the most powerful video cards out there.

Asus G75VW-AS71 (Source: asset3.cbsistatic.com)

All things considered, this is a more than decent gaming laptop from Asus which takes last year’s recipe and improves it here and there to make a desirable system which many gamers out there will appreciate, not only for the hardware that it packs but also for the attractive look of the laptop, as well as for the spacious keyboard and big touchpad which offer a more comfortable experience than before.

It is without any doubt a lot more interesting than the LG Connect 4G, which is another smartphone introduced by MetroPCS at this year’s edition of CES. The hardware specifications of the Attain 4G should peak your interest, just like the sensible price tag of $199.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate). The Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G sports a silver finish for the sides, backing and the rim which offsets the glossy black front side. We find it to be quite an attractive phone and it has the typical dimension for a handset of this type, measuring 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.4 inches and weighing approximately 4.5 ounces which is a comfortable size and weight in our opinion.

Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G (Source: yangmobiles.com)

The smartphone has been equipped with a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen display that boasts a HVGA resolution (320 x 480 pixels). It manages to be quite a colorful and bright screen thanks to the brighter icons and the darker background, but we have to warn you that this display will fade when exposed to direct sunlight.

Just like most of the smartphones introduced at CES at the beginning of the year, the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G is running on Android 2.3 (also known as Gingerbread) while on top of Google’s OS is the TouchWiz user interface developed by Samsung, meaning that you get one-touch access to the phone’s settings from the pull-down menu. You also get an overview screen if you pinch one of the seven customizable home screens.

Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G (Source: www1.pcmag.com)

Sitting below the screen you will notice the four physical buttons: Menu, Home, Back and Search; which are physical buttons, unlike most of the other smartphones that adopt touch sensitive keys. Even so, you will most likely appreciate the responsiveness of the keys and the fact that they are well backlit.

Much like all modern smartphones today, the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G has been equipped with both a front-facing and a rear-facing camera. Located above the display is a 1.3 megapixel unit, while at the back you will find a 3.2 megapixel camera. We should mention that on the right spine of the phone you will have access to the camera shutter which if you press and hold it will fire up the camera application.

Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G (Source: www9.pcmag.com)

Let’s talk about the rest of the externals found on this Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G. On the bottom of the smartphone sits the micro USB charging port, while on the left side is the volume rocker. On top of the phone is the 3.5mm headphone jack which sits next to the power button. Remove the back cover and you will expose the microSD card slot that can hold a card up to a capacity of 32GB. It is worth saying that the phone comes bundled with a 2GB card.

Since we are dealing with a typical Android-running smartphone, the Galaxy Attain 4G comes with the usual goodies like GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and voice search capabilities. You also benefit from the usual Google services, including YouTube. What we do notice is the absence of hot-spot support but for some people this isn’t very important.

Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G (Source: www5.pcmag.com)

Loaded by default on the phone is the Swype virtual keyboard, Samsung’s AllShare application for sharing content with other DLNA-enabled devices, social-networking apps, Rhapsody music, as well as a few productivity titles. We have to warn you that there’s no way to uninstall these pre-loaded apps, but the good thing is that from Google Play you can download all the apps you want.

We continue by talking about the camera software which unfortunately forces that you will have to use the camera only in landscape mode which is a considerable downside. Of course, this won’t stop you from taking portrait photos, but we remind you that the controls are not going to follow you so you will have no other way but to view the vertical photo in a horizontal mode which is a little bit annoying in our opinion. On the other hand, the good news is that the rest of the controls are easy to use, while switching between the cameras, from camera to video mode is a piece of cake. We can say the same thing about using the settings, like choosing from one of the 14 available scenes, setting exposure, turning the flash on and off.

Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G (Source: www8.pcmag.com)

The quality of the outdoor shots is very good and even though there’s a little bit of shutter lag, this isn’t a deal breaker, especially if you’re already used to the cameras available on Android smartphones. As for the indoor shots, as you would expect these are a bit grayish and also washed out.

Used as a phone, the Galaxy Attain 4G provides a great call quality since the voices sound very clear and natural on both ends of the line, while the speakerphone quality is a bit on the average side due to the reason that the volume is only medium and it is echoey and tinny as well. As for the data speeds, these are actually surprisingly good for a phone running MetroPCS’ 4G LTE network, but some users have said that the coverage is inconsistent, depending on the area where you’re using the phone. In some situations, the phone switches from LTE to 2.5G (1xRTT) which might be a problem for some people that need a constant and fast Internet connection on their smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G (Source: www3.pcmag.com)

Powered by a 1.0 GHz processor, the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G manages to provide the user with a silky smooth experience, while the 1,650 mAh battery should provide sufficient juice for up to 3.3 hours of talk time or 8.3 days of standby time. The smartphone has a digital SAR rating of 0.78 W/kg.

The Royal Blue version of the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 adopts a finely grooved back while in the middle is sitting an embossed silver logo of the company. Starting with this June, in stores you will also find other versions of the tablet, such as Iceberg White and Torch Red. On the right side of the tablet’s rear you will notice the 1.5-inch long speaker grille which has replaced the TF201’s basic speaker holes.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 (Source: zapp2.staticworld.net)

The new model borrows the physical slots and inputs from the previous model so on the left side of the TF300 you will find the microSD card slot, microHDMI port, along with a volume rocker. On the top edge of the tablet you can find the power/sleep button, while also from the Prime Asus has borrowed the 1.2 mpx front-facing camera and the 8 mpx rear-facing camera that on this model doesn’t come with an LED flashlight.

The Asus Transformer Pad TF300 can slide considerably easier in its keyboard dock in comparison to its predecessor. The good news is that if you have a Prime you can put it into the dock of the TF300. However, we strongly advise you not to try the other way around because even though technically you may force the new model in the dock of the Prime, you should know that it will never fully lock into place. By forcing this you risk damaging the connector so avoid doing this. Since officially the dock of the Prime is not compatible with the TF300, most likely Asus won’t cover the warranty if you ruin the connectors.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 (Source: zapp2.staticworld.net)

As far as the keyboard dock, this looks and feels just about the same as the one for the Prime, with the exception of the USB port which now is protected by a cover. We find this keyboard to be very comfortable to use, but for those of you who have large hands it can be a little bit hard to use. Despite the fact that the buttons are smaller when compared to the ones of the MacBook Air, these are still well spaced and feel fairly soft. Regarding the price tag, you will pay the same money as for the keyboard of the Prime so prepare to shell out $150.

We have to mention that this is the very first tablet launched by Asus which runs as standard on Android 4.0.3, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich. You will be happy to hear that the tablet comes bundled with a lot of software from Asus. Right from the start, if you register the tablet you will get 8GB of free cloud storage space courtesy of Asus MyCloud which will be available for a lifetime. You also get remote access to a Mac or a PC and you will be connected to the @Vibe online music & video service.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 (Source: zapp2.staticworld.net)

You might want to know that the File Manager is going to access the root directory of the tablet so you have an easy & organized access to all of the files on the internal memory or on the microSD card. With MyNet you have the possibility of streaming content to a device that supports DLNA. Also on board is MyLibrary which is the e-reader software developed by Asus. Another piece of software that you will find is the SuperNote with which you can type notes (obviously!) and you also are able to write these notes by using your fingers. Another thing that you can do with this app is take photos or videos, as well as draw graphs.

We continue by talking about App Backup that gives you the opportunity of backing up any of your installed apps to either the tablet’s internal memory or to the external microSD card. What this means is that you are able to reset the tablet without having to lose all of the applications that you have previously installed on the device. This Asus Transformer Pad TF300 also comes with the very useful Polaris Office application with which you can manage Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. There’s also App Locker that you can use for password-protecting your installed apps.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 (Source: zapp2.staticworld.net)

Asus has done several tweaks to the Android OS, giving you the possibility of running the Tegra 3 processor in balanced, power-saving or normal mode. The CPU is going to run in full speed when the normal mode is selected, while in power-saving and balanced modes, the speed of the processor is throttled in order to save precious battery life. You might remember this CPU-throttling feature from the Prime model, and we can only hope that more and more tablet manufacturers will implement this technology which is good for prolonging the battery life of the device. We would also like to see it in smartphones as well since many users have complained that the battery lasts for just one day of heavy use.

With the recent apps button you have the chance of taking screenshots, just like with the Prime. One of the biggest drawbacks of the new model would have to be the absence of the Super IPS+ mode that made the brightness of the screen reach an extremely high level that made the tablet remain perfectly readable even when exposed to direct sunlight.

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 (Source: zapp2.staticworld.net)

This is the second tablet in the world to adopt the quad core Tegra 3 processor developed by Nvidia. The CPU runs at 1.20 GHz and works together with 1GB of DDR3 RAM, and it is available with either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage memory. Some of the features we would like to mention include GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth 3.0+EDR and 802.11n Wi-Fi.

The IPS screen of the Asus Transformer Pad TF300 has a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels and offers pretty wide viewing angles, good contrast ratio, but as we were saying earlier, it is not as bright as the one on the previous model.

According to Asus, the battery of the tablet is able to last for approximately ten hours.

We also like the fact that the corners are rounded so the tablet will feel quite comfortable when you hold it in your hand. Many reviewers have said that this has to be one of the most comfortable tablets ever made, and we totally understand why they’d say this as it just feels right when you hold it in your hand. We should mention that the Acer Iconia Tab A510 is heavier and thicker than the aforementioned Asus Transformer Pad TF300 which makes it sturdier and stronger. However, when you compare it to more stylish tablets, this one looks a bit dull and quite boxy.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 (Source: digitaltrends.ro)

Sitting on the left spine of the tablet you will find the headphone jack and the power/lock button, while on the right side you have access to the microHDMI port, as well as the microSD card slot that is covered by a protecting door and is able to accept cards up to a capacity of 32GB. The microUSB port is located in the middle of the bottom edge, while next to it is a reset pinhole. The speakers are installed on the far left and right sides, while on the top edge you can find the volume rocker, rotation lock switch, as well as the microphone pinhole. In the top bezel’s middle is a one megapixel camera that sports an ambient light sensor on the left side. There’s also a five megapixel camera sitting at the back about which we’ll talk later on in the review.

The Acer Iconia Tab A510 is running on Android 4.0.3 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes with a variety of custom software which will be quite familiar for those that have used a tablet from Acer before. One such example would have to be the Acer Ring which is an application shortcut and a carousel-like bookmark hub which will appear after tapping on the ring symbol which is located at the screen’s bottom. The great thing about it is that all of the apps and bookmarks are entirely customizable, giving you the chance to insert up to four applications as well as how many bookmarks you want.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 (Source: cdn.thetechjournal.com)

This might seem useful and it actually is, but the thing is that accessing the applications the old fashioned way is already very fast and easy to do so it will take several seconds more while using the Ring. As far as the interface is concerned, this would have to be considerably faster in comparison to the A200. Also on board you will find the Acer Print which is an incorporated setting which will give you the option of adding printers via a bar code scan or a network and after that you can print it straight from the A510.

This would have to be the very first tablet from Acer which is motivated by Nvidia’s quad core processor known as Tegra 3. It has the 1.30 GHz version of the CPU, whereas the TF300 packs a 1.20 GHz processor. We were surprised to find out that it has 1GB of DDR2 memory, unlike the TF300 which sports 1GB of faster DDR3 memory. Other hardware features that are worth mentioning include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and GPS. We should mention that the tablet is available exclusively in a 32GB version. Bundled with the Acer Iconia Tab A510 is a Micro-USB-to-USB cable, as well as a Micro-USB-to-female-USB dongle.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 (Source: tipsavenue.com)

We wished that the A510 had an IPS screen since these displays feature better viewing angles and provide a more optimal color performance in comparison to a regular LCD screen which the A510 has. Even if you look at it straight-on, the color accuracy is less impressive in comparison to the display of the TF300.

We do like that the touchscreen manages to be responsive but it’s just isn’t as sensitive to your touch like the TF300. The good news is that the applications are loaded a bit quicker than on the TF300 and you will certainly appreciate the 60 fps screen transition effect, courtesy of the powerful Tegra 3 chip provided by Nvidia.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 (Source: codenametech.com)

Recording 720p clips with the camera located on the back of the Acer Iconia Tab A510 is not very impressive due to the reason that the colors are a little bit washed out and the videos will lack detail. The quality of the recording is a lot less impressive when compared to the results provided by the rear cameras of the TF300 and the iPad.

One of the impressive features of the tablet would have to be the Dolby Mobile 3+ technology that also comes with 5.1 HD sound. Despite the fact that it has a 9,800 mAh battery which is larger than what you will find on tablets of this size, this battery will drain quite fast so there are no real benefits from having a bigger battery, at least not in this model which seems to need a lot of energy to work.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 (Source: newgadget.eu)

The Acer Iconia Tab A510 costs $450 which is a good price to pay for a Tegra 3-powered tablet but since the Transformer TF300 from Asus is already available, many people will probably prefer the latter version since it offers just about the same level of performance while the display is significantly better than the one found on the A510. In addition, the tablet from Asus is also $50 more affordable and comes with a better rear camera so there’s no real reason why someone would choose the Acer, unless that person is loyal to this brand. Now that the TF300 is out, Acer might consider lowering the price tag of the Iconia Tab A510 in order to make it more competitive.

For the money you’re paying you get 6GB of DDR3 memory running at 1,333 MHz, a roomy 640GB hard drive rotating at 5,400 rpm and an AMD Radeon HD 6620G. The laptop comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, the 64-bit edition and has an AMD ID 1705/780E chipset. This model measures 13.4 x 9 x 1.1 – 1.4 inches and tips the scales at 5.5 pounds or 6.3 pounds if we take into account the AC adapter.

Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

The P series from Toshiba is a mid-range lineup of laptops and this model fits it quite nicely. It adopts a glossy and shiny silver-black plastic body and on it are textured horizontal lines which add some depth and make the body of the laptop be fingerprint resistant. However, it still is a laptop made from plastic and it’s also quite bulky.

The keyboard of the Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 is sitting in a recessed section which means that the laptop’s wrist rest sits higher in comparison to the keyboard so it provides a better ergonomic feel. We’re dealing with an island-style, flat-topped keyboard which feels a little bit wiggly under the user’s fingers and we don’t like that the spacebar is undersized. On the right side you will find a full number pad, as well as Page Up and Page Down keys.

Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

Above the keyboard of this laptop you’ll find a row of media control buttons which are touch sensitive. This is a nice feature to find on a laptop in this price range, just like the Harman Kardon speakers which are certainly above average, with good volume and clarity.

Sitting below the keyboard of this Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 is the touchpad which has a matte Mylar coating and at its top edge is the accent light strip which can be turned off if you hit the small button for deactivating the pad. We should mention that the pad has been centered under the spacebar which means that it sits to the left side of the chassis. Below this touchpad you will find two big plastic mouse buttons which even though are clacky and loose, these seem to be extremely responsive. On the right edge of the touchpad you’ll find a scroll zone.

Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

Toshiba has fitted this model with a 15.6-inch display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and offers a good level of brightness and also rich colors. What we don’t like is that the viewing angles are not very good, but this is somewhat understandable for a $700 laptop that has a 15-inch 720p display.

Moving on to ports and connectivity features, this Satellite laptop sports VGA and HDMI ports, headphone and microphone jacks, along with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port and an SD card reader. The networking compartment is covered by the 802.11n Wi-Fi, an Ethernet port and Bluetooth, while the optical drive comes in the form of a Blu-ray player/DVD burner, a nice feature to get in this price segment.

Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

For the money you’re paying for the P755D-S5172, this is an impressive set of features to get since you have a USB 3.0 port which benefits from the company’s sleep & play feature so you can charge various devices while the laptop is sleeping or it’s closed.

We have to mention that this would have to be a fixed-configuration model so you’re stuck with an AMD Quad-Core A8-3520M processor, 6GB of DDR3 RAM and a 640GB hard drive rotating at 5,400 rpm. You should know that on the company’s website you’ll find about thirty other P755 models, available in a wide variety of hardware configurations, including both AMD and Intel processors. The model in this review is the most affordable one money can buy, while for $1,199 you can opt for an Intel Core i7-powered version which provides a speedier performance.

Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

For the price tag of this model, the level of performance offered is decent, but it is at the same time underwhelming since this A8 processor should a lot faster than the A6 and A4 CPUs. The benchmark scores are showing that this is on par with an Intel Core i3 processor so there’s a huge difference between this A8 CPU and a mid-range Core i5, for example. Even so, this is a perfectly suitable processor for video viewing, web surfing and other light office tasks.

The GPU under the hood of this Toshiba Satellite model is a Radeon HD 6620G that is a lot more powerful in comparison to the Intel HD 3000 (soon to be replaced by the significantly faster HD 4000). The laptop can run Street Fighter 4 at 29.8 fps at the system’s native resolution, which makes the laptop decent for mainstream gaming if you are willing to set the graphics details to medium. The aforementioned HD 4000 from Intel offers just about the same level of performance as the Radeon HD 6620G.

Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

Regarding the battery department, this laptop from Toshiba isn’t a top performer as it last for almost three hours in a demanding continuous video playback test, which is less than the standard in this segment which is of more than three hours.

All things considered, the Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5172 comes with a fairly exciting design, a Blu-ray drive, solid graphics performance for a $699 price tag. However, since the CPU is not as powerful as even the entry-level Core processor from Intel, some won’t probably find this model too attractive. If you want a laptop just for word processing, viewing movies and doing some light gaming, this still remains a pretty solid solution, offering good speakers and a Blu-ray drive, but for viewing 1080p content you’ll have to connect the laptop to an HDTV since the 15.6-inch display of the laptop will do only 720p.

Aside from these small changes, both tablets look pretty much the same. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is quite thin but it is not as thin as the company’s Tab 7.7 model. It manages to be quite comfortable to hold in your hands thanks to its rounded and smooth corners. The Korean company has described the color of the tablet’s back cover as titanium silver which makes sense in our opinion.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (Source: dailytekno.com)

The dimensions of the tablet are 7.6 (width in landscape) x 4.8 (height) x 0.3 inches (depth) x 0.76 inches (side bezel width in landscape) and it tips the scales at 0.74 pounds, which makes it lighter than the Amazon Kindle Fire which weighs 0.9 pounds.

It is important to note that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 features a microSD card slot that can accept cards up to the maximum capacity of 32GB, aside from the 8GB of built-in memory. When you buy the tablet you will also get 50GB of free Dropbox for a year, courtesy of Samsung. Compared to the Tab Plus, the door that opens up the microSD card slot is now easier to open and it won’t get stuck, thankfully.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (Source: blogcdn.com)

While the Plus sports a front-facing 2 megapixel camera, the Tab 2 7.0 only has a VGA camera, while the back of both tablets features a 3 megapixel camera, but the Tab 2 7.0 lacks the LED flash which you’ll find on the Plus. We like the fact that both the front- and rear-facing cameras have been installed in the upper left corner while you’re holding the tablet in the landscape position which means that you don’t have to worry about placing your fingers on the camera lens which will block taking a picture.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 has been equipped with dual speakers on the bottom and a dock connector on the right spine, while the left side is home to the microphone pinhole and the headphone jack. Approximately an inch away from the tablet’s front-facing camera is the ambient light sensor but we have to warn you that it has been calibrated too sensitively. We don’t like the fact that once again Samsung decided not to include an HDMI port so you will have to pay extra if you want to play your videos from the tablet to an HDTV.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (Source: c2499022.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com)

Aside from the attractive price tag of just $250, one of the main selling points of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 would have to be the fact that it runs as standard on Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) which makes it the first tablet from Samsung to taste ICS. On top of Google’s operating system you will find the usual TouchWiz user interface developed by the Korean company, as well as some of the Samsung custom applications like Media Hub, Music Hub, Game Hub, Mini Apps tray, screenshot application and others as well. You should know that the stock look of Ice Cream Sandwich has been retained, with the exception of the TouchWiz skin as well as a bunch of shortcuts for turning on/off GPS, screen rotation, Wi-Fi, etc.

That IR blaster which can be found on the 7.0 Plus and the Tab 7.7 has been transferred to the Tab 2 7.0 as well and works together with the Smart Remote application which will allow you to turn the tablet into a proper remote control for your HDTV.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (Source: photos.pcpro.co.uk)

As far as the hardware features are concerned, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is powered by a dual core OMAP 4430 processor clocked at 1.0 GHz and comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage. Some of the tablet’s most important features include GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, along with a digital compass, accelerometer and a gyroscope. Those two stereo speakers located on the bottom of the tablet provide a decent sound quality but remember that if you turn the volume all the way up you’ll notice some distortions.

You should know that the tablet borrows the same PLS-based panel as the one found on the Plus, and it has a resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels. You might be disappointed with this resolution since other tablets that have this screen size feature a resolution of 1,280 x 600 pixels which makes the screen look considerably sharper. Even though the clarity is not bad, compared to the 7-inch version of the Toshiba Thrive it does not look nearly as good due to the lower pixel density of Sammy’s tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (Source: stuffmideast.com)

Even though the Tab 2 7.0 and the Plus have the same PLS-based panel, we have to warn you that the colors on the Tab 2 7.0 don’t look as vivid as they do on the Plus. Some early reviewers have said that the colors are a little bit washed out and the screen looks considerably greener when put side by side to the Plus.

The differences between the VGA camera of the Tab 2 7.0 and the two megapixel camera of the Plus are noticeable, while the rear-facing three megapixel camera is not as good as the one on the Plus. 720p videos will run silky smooth on the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, but reviewers have complained that 1080p videos don’t work on the tablet, even though Samsung has mentioned that this model supports the format.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (Source: photos.pcpro.co.uk)

All things considered, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 might not be the best tablet out there but given its low price tag it will surely be appreciated by a lot of customers. However, we should mention in the second quarter of the year Asus is going to launch the Memo 370T for the same price tag but that model will pack a quad core Tegra 3 processor, an eight megapixel camera and a display which will have a higher resolution.

The 2012 model would have to be a semirugged laptop that can be used by kids as well which reminds us of Intel’s initiative from several years ago. Just like a lot of other computers of this kind, this new X130e features easy-to-access ports, rubberized bumpers and a tough build. Aside from these characteristics, the model is just about the same as last year’s version so the speed has been sacrificed in favor of an extended battery life. While some of the kids don’t like this model, most of the educators will probably find this model to be quite attractive since the version powered by an AMD E-300 APU costs $549, which is more or less the same as an iPad but for everyday use it is considerably more versatile.

Lenovo ThinkPad X130e (Source: www7.pcmag.com)

However, we find it odd that Lenovo has decided to a kid-oriented laptop with the ThinkPad brand which as you know is mostly aimed for business use. In addition, the aforementioned E-300 processor is considerably slower if we judge it by the current ultrabook students. However, it should provide enough power for basic video streaming and office tasks.

That AMD Fusion E-300 processor works at a frequency of 1.30 GHz and is joined by the 4GB of DDR3 memory running at 1,333 MHz. For storage it has been equipped with a 320GB hard drive spinning at 7,200 rpm while the chipset is an ATI SB600. The graphics power is handled by the built-in AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics while the operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit edition.

Lenovo ThinkPad X130e (Source: www2.pcmag.com)

The Lenovo ThinkPad X130e measures 11.5 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches and weighs 3.86 pounds or 4.52 pounds if we add its AC adapter. The educational makeover that this model has received gave it a considerably stockier look and the lid is now considerably thicker. Also new are the rubberized edges and corners that are forming a dust-resistant seal around the laptop when it is closed. As you would expect, it adds extra protection to the laptop from impacts. We should also mention that Lenovo says that the laptop’s curved corners are also more impact-resistant as well, while the screen hinge is sturdier in comparison to last year’s model, says Lenovo.

Not only is it thicker by at least a tenth of an inch than the 2011 model but at the same time is half-pound heavier. For bulk orders Lenovo is offering various colors for this ThinkPad X130e. Just as you would expect, since we’re dealing with a laptop from Lenovo it has an exceptional keyboard that consists of raised, concave and gently curved keys which have been molded for added comfort, but we should note that these feel a little bit stiffer in comparison to what we’ve seen on recent ThinkPad laptops. Below the keyboard you will notice a rather cramped palm rest area which shouldn’t be a major issue for younger children.

Lenovo ThinkPad X130e (Source: www4.pcmag.com)

The Lenovo ThinkPad X130e still comes with the company’s traditional red rubberized trackpoint which we find a rather strange addition to a kid-oriented laptop since most children would have probably preferred a larger multitouch touchpad. This trackpoint is sitting in the middle of the keyboard while the dedicated buttons make the touchpad sitting below to have a very small size. Since it has a limited area, the navigation is not very easy to do while the touch sensitivity is not that good.

This ultraportable from Lenovo comes with an 11.6-inch anti-glare display that will look quite nice at the maximum brightness level but if you turn the level down you should know that the display is going to look significantly dimmer in comparison to the average in this segment. In addition, the viewing angles of this screen are not very good, but we do appreciate the 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution which is the standard nowadays for laptops up to a screen of 15 inches. Thanks to the 720p resolution, applications and browser windows will not look letterboxed, while the text and videos look quite crisp.

Lenovo ThinkPad X130e (Source: www6.pcmag.com)

The stereo speakers of the Lenovo ThinkPad X130e have been mounted on the bottom and are of low quality so they’re only suitable for basic playback and web chatting. One of the other student-friendly features of the laptop would have to be the low-light webcam that has a maximum resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. Even though the images taken with this webcam look clear, we have to warn you that the colors are a little bit washed out.

Moving on to ports and connectivity features, this ultraportable from Lenovo has been fitted with both VGA and HDMI ports, while for audio it only has a headphone and microphone combo jack. In the data area it has a handy SD card reader and three USB 2.0 ports, while in the networking area we find 802.11n Wi-Fi, Ethernet port, along with optional Bluetooth ($20 extra) and mobile broadband/WiMax ($55). For $125 more you can get the Gobi 3000 mobile 3G broadband. As you would expect, this model does not feature an optical drive.

Lenovo ThinkPad X130e (Source: www1.pcmag.com)

We end this review by talking about the battery life of the Lenovo ThinkPad X130e which is very good as the ultraportable can last for more than 6 hours in a demanding video playback test so it is more than enough for a full day at school. This isn’t really a huge surprise since we already knew that the laptops based on AMD’s Fusion platform are top performers as far as the battery is concerned.

The laptop is sold with a standard one-year warranty, while for $399 you can upgrade it to four years. For an additional $139 you can get a four-year battery warranty.

This reasonably priced desktop replacement is powered by a second generation Intel Core i5-2450M processor clocked at 1.60 GHz and packs 6GB of DDR3 memory which is running at a frequency of 1,333 MHz. In the storage department it gets a spacious and speedy 640GB SATA hard drive rotating at 7,200 rpm while the chipset is an Intel HM65. The graphics power is handled by the integrated Intel HD 3000 and the dedicated video card which is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M. We should note that the laptop is running on Windows 7 Home Premium, the 64-bit edition.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

The Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 measures 16.3 x 10.8 x 1.1 – 1.4 inches and tips the scales at 7.5 pounds while with the AC adapter weighs 9.7 pounds. Its size shouldn’t come as a surprise to those that are familiar with the company’s Qosmio lineup. This model adopts the design of the 2011’s Qosmio series as it has the same textured horizontal lines that have been carved into it, while the lid and the interior have a red-to-silvery-gray finish.

Above its keyboard you will notice the chrome plastic speaker grills that make this model feel like a gaming laptop, just like the red LED lights for the strip of media controls and the touchpad. If you are looking for a laptop with very high quality materials, this might not be the model for you since it boats an overly glossy plastic build.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

If you have used a Toshiba laptop recently, you’ll immediately get used to the raised island-style keyboard that features full-size Ctrl, Shift and other important keys, along with separate navigation keys such as Page Up and Page Down. We should note that on the right side of the keyboard there is a full-size number pad which might be useful for some people.

Sitting below this great keyboard is a medium-sized touchpad which could have been bigger since now it leaves a lot of wrist-rest space which could have been used for a larger touchpad, but even so we like it since it manages to be quite responsive and has a matte finish. Along the top edge of the pad is running a red LED strip which can be deactivated along with the touchpad if you hit a small button which is located above.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

This version of the Toshiba Qosmio has a 17.3-inch display with a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels, which is normal for a 13- or 14-inch laptop that costs a little over $1,000, but  for a big 17-inch screen this resolution is just too low, especially since this isn’t really a budget laptop. We do have to mention that the quality of this screen is great, much like all Qosmio laptops. Another feature that we like are those Harman Kardon speakers which are great, way better than what you would find on a laptop in this segment.

As far as ports and connectivity features are concerned, this desktop replacement from Toshiba comes with both VGA and HDMI ports, while in the audio area it packs headphone and microphone jacks. Data transfer is done by using one of the three USB 2.0 ports, the USB 3.0 port or the SD card reader. Staying connected is done with the help of the 802.11n Wi-Fi, an Ethernet port or Bluetooth. Also on board is a regular DVD burner. We should mention that one of the USB ports benefits from the sleep-and-charge technology so you can charge various devices without turning on the laptop. We notice the absence of an eSATA port which for some people is important when dealing with a large volume of data that has to be transferred quickly.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

You might think that for a laptop like this one which is partially aimed towards gamers, that Intel Core i5 processor is not enough to handle the latest games so a quad core Core i7 might have been a better solution. However, for most of the tasks – and we include here games as well – that CPU works perfectly fine since it is backed up by that dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M video card which is without any doubt the best feature of this model.

This dedicated GPU is capable of handling the most recent games with good frame rates at decent detail levels, especially since the maximum resolution is limited to 1,600 x 900 pixels which a lot of gamers will say that it is not ideal. One of the most demanding video games would have to be Metro 2033 and this laptop is able to play it at 15.7 fps in native resolution while at 1,366 x 768 pixels it runs the game at 23.7 fps. The Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 can smoothly run Skyrim at “ultra” settings at a resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels. In other words, if you do not mind about the low resolution of the display, the laptop is capable of providing a very good gaming experience for a fair price.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

Since we are dealing with a big 17-inch laptop that has a dedicated GPU, you shouldn’t expect a lot from the battery department. Despite the fact that it comes with a rather bulky battery which raises the back end of the laptop off the ground, this Qosmio X775-Q7170 is going to last for approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes in a video playback test, which is not a great result, not even for a 17-inch system like this one.

All things considered, we feel that this Toshiba Qosmio model is a good example of a mid-priced desktop replacement. It could have been even better if it had a 1080p display and a less juvenile design which might be attractive for some people who are on the look for a new laptop.

The Sony Tablet P measures 7.1 x 6.2 x 0.75 inches (W x H x D) when opened while when it is closed it has these dimensions: 7.1 x 3.3 x 0.9 inches, while the side bezel measures 1.1 inches. One of the things that we don’t like about this tablet would have to be the pointy plastic corners which make the device uncomfortable to hold and operate. The top screen is rotated to 90 degrees and continues to rotate back an additional 90 degrees so that the 5.5-inch screens will be perfectly aligned with one another. The result is a square-shaped screen that has almost a 7-inch diagonal. We are saying “almost” due to the reason that there is about 1/3 of an inch of dead space which you will notice between the two screens, a gap which makes viewing movies and games, as well as any application not optimized to be viewed on this dual screen setup.

Sony Tablet P (Source: gadg.com)

Sitting on the right spine of the bottom section you have access to the power adapter jack, power button, volume rocker and the microUSB port. As you would expect, putting all of these connections on a 3-inch space feels quite cramped. We should mention that the volume rocker and the power button have been embedded in the Tablet P a little bit too deeply which makes pressing these buttons somewhat hard, especially for those that have large fingers.

There is a 0.3 mpx camera embedded in the top-right bezel of the top section while on the opposite back, sitting approximately one inch earlier is the 5 mpx camera. The headphone jack has been installed on the bottom section’s front edge, while on the back sitting near the dual hinges are two tiny back buttons. If you press these two buttons simultaneously these are going to unlock the bottom plate which reveals the microSD card slot and the removable battery. That expansion slot is capable of holding a microSD card up to a capacity of 32GB.

Sony Tablet P (Source: sony.es)

The Sony Tablet P is running on Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb but the Japanese company will probably roll out an update to Ice Cream Sandwich. Even though the operating system is able to display on both screens, some of the applications like Google Play will be displayed only on the top screen. You will notice a problem while playing games and when watching movies because viewed on the small screen there isn’t a lot to look at while if you expand the game or video to both the screens it will make them look awkward, while its disruptive black bar that splits the two screens is not helping.

On the other hand, we do appreciate that the music application, movie player and the photo application are taking advantage of the two screen setup, as the controls are kept separate. The browser is spreading on both screens but the bad news is that it won’t auto-rotate when you turn the Sony Tablet P sideways or upside down.

Sony Tablet P (Source: joyenjoys.com)

It is important to note that the device comes with limited support for the PlayStation Store so you are able to run some PS1 games. Some of the games that you can run on the Tablet P, such as Crash Bandicoot, are taking advantage of the dual screen configuration since the virtual control pad is sitting on the bottom screen while the game is on the top screen.

We do have to mention that the Android YouTube application is not compatible at the moment with this tablet, but Sony has said that they are currently developing an optimized version of the app which is “coming soon”.

Sony Tablet P (Source: laptopnews.ro)

Under the hood of the Sony Tablet P is the Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core processor that works together with 1GB of RAM. Some of the features include GPS, gyroscope, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. We were disappointed to find out that the tablet has only 4GB of internal memory. There’s only a single speaker which is installed on the left edge of the bottom section which doesn’t deliver a high quality sound so if you plan on using the Tablet P as a dedicated music player, our recommendation is to opt for some decent headphones.

The dual 5.5-inch touchscreens of the Sony Tablet P have great high luminance ratings and at the same time it is capable of providing low blacks. We should mention that the screens feature a high-contrast and high-gloss look while the viewing angles are great. Keep in mind that the glossy screen is reflective, but we do like the fact that the colors pop. The display has a resolution of 1,024 x 480 pixels which makes viewing 720p videos a great experience. However, the tablet is not capable of playing 1080p videos.

Sony Tablet P (Source: cdn.androidcommunity.com)

The photos and videos taken with the aforementioned 0.3 mpx front camera lack detail and are also quite washed out. On the other hand, the back camera is capable of delivering a high-contrast and detailed photo which is superior to what you will usually find on a tablet.

As far as the battery life is concerned, the one in the Sony Tablet P is capable of lasting for almost 6 hours of video which isn’t an impressive result but it still is a decent figure.

The tablet is available at AT&T for $400 with a 2-year contract and you get access to the carrier’s HSPA+ network. If you don’t want to get tied down to a contract, you should know that off-contract the tablet will set you back about $550.