Computer Reviews

I like this notebook. I had purchased a cheaper laptop earlier, but sent it back because of the fan noise. The cheaper laptops typically use Intel Celeron processors which do not include "Speedstep" technology. Intel's speedstep (or AMDs similar technique) is needed to reduce power consumption/dissipation (and hence heat) to keep the fan off. In Intel's line, it seems to only come with Mobile Pentium M (part of "Centrino") and with *Mobile* Pentium 4s. The Gateway M505X which has the more advanced Pentium M (1.4 GHz which is equivalent to perhaps a 2.4 GHz P4)) does not run the fan at all during most uses (probably would if one ran games, etc.), and the hard drive is virtually inaudible. In short, the machine is totally silent. In addition, the bottom only gets moderately warm (not hot). Also, the palm rests do not suffer from heat buildup like some competing models (hard disk location is better in 505X).

The touchpad is awesome. Has a very smooth feel, never missing my finger's commands. I wish the left/right mouse keys were slightly less stiff, and I must say that although the keyboard is nice (less force needed than on HPs and Compaqs), I am dissappointed that Gateway left a chasm below the j, k, and l keys. When these keys are hit, the keyboard flexes slightly and the sound made is significantly different than the keys on the left side which have structure below them. But I'll learn to live with it... :-)

The multimedia capabilities of the machine are excellent. Especially the sound quality. I am frankly amazed at how good this thing sounds. As an Electrical Engineer, I know it is not easy to make good sound from tiny speakers, but this machine does a good job. (It's not going to compare to large speakers, of course, but it is infinitely better than the speakers in the cheaper laptop I purchased and returned). The 505X has, in addition to the two top speakers, a "subwoofer" that does a very credible job of enhancing the lows. Makes bass guitar tracks, etc. very clearly heard, and fills out the sound in general. There's even an equalizer that comes up in the system tray that you can use to alter the tonal quality and add effects such as reverb! The only negative on the sound is that max volume is not too high. In a noisy environment, this might be an issue, but its certainly fine for around the house.

The widescreen is also nice. Native resolution is 1280 x 800, which is OK for my eyesight. Like other laptops, if you go to a different (lower) resolution, the fonts look a bit rough, so be sure you can read text at the native resolution. The text is going to be slightly smaller than say, a 15 inch TFT with 1024x768 native resolution. Brightness is good, and has many levels so one can save power and battery life by turning it down if you want. One slight negative on the display is that mine has one bad pixel. It is stuck on and noticible with dark backgrounds, but completely invisible most of the time, so I can live with it... On the subject of battery life, I went 4 hours of mixed use (surfing web wirelessly, loading a few programs, playing snippets of DVDs, intermixed with some idle time on a mid-brightness setting), and still had 20% left in the battery.

Wireless works fine. Seems to get as good a signal or better than my external card on my other machine. Power management is pretty good too. When I put it to sleep (hibernate mode), it gets there in 13 seconds. Waking from hibernation takes 22 seconds. Not bad for a machine with 512Mb of RAM. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on what software you are using.

Finally, the aesthetics and build are nice too. The metal lid and keyboard surround are fashionable and the machine feels quite solid. Would be nice if it were a few pounds lighter, but the 6.7 pounds is about state-of the art for what it contains.
For the price, I'm very pleased!

had the notebook for about a month now, and love everything about it. No problems to report so far.

Pros: wide-screen is definitely a major plus, at 6.7lbs lighter than other comparable notebooks. Sturdier than comparable models. S-video port, and 3 USB ports. Looks VERY cool.

Cons: No infrared (has the port built in, but its been disabled), at 1.4M not the fastest out there, 40 gigs is slightly smaller than others.

Final note, I was debating between the toshiba m35 which was cheaper at the time than this,but the toshiba seemed flimsier and even though it had a bigger hard drive, it was not that appealing. The keyboard on the toshiba feels quite uncomfortable.

Similar to another notebook shopper, I debated between the comparable Gateway M505X and Toshiba M35-S359, (see the very complete review "Nice machine, nice price", December 2, 2003 for the Toshiba).

Unlike that reviewer, I ended up purchasing the Gateway for a couple of reasons:

The Toshiba felt a bit flimsy and the keyboard was mushy. The Gateway seems to be constructed better and have a more subsantial feel with a very nice keyboard, without being much heavier (~1/2 pound).

The Gateway has much better speakers and a subwoofer which enhances the sound. The Toshiba sounded faint and metallic in comparison. The Gateway also has a very handy AV panel with LC display.

The screen on the Toshiba might be a little better, or at least a little brighter at its highest setting, but both are very good.

The Gateway offered better extended warranty packages for less money. Also, you can take it into any Gateway store instead of shipping it somewhere. Complete extended warranties with accidental damage coverage offered by computer retailers for about the same price were only 2 years vs. Gateway's 3.

The Gateway is much sleeker, and cleaner looking with its monotone metallic case and integrated speakers.

I realize that most of my points are aesthetic, but the hardware is almost identical, and performance should be very comparable.

For the past year or so, I had been noticing that my old HP LaserJet 5MP was taking longer and longer to print. Of course, the fact that my documents have been getting progressively more complex probably had something to do with it...but I'll choose to blame the printer. Finally fed up with my circa-1995 printer, I started the search to replace it. I looked at a lot of different units, but finally decided on the 4100N. I've used these in the business world, but wanted something that could deal with a fairly high-volume home office printing requirement, was fast, and had great print quality.

In a nutshell, the 4100N fulfilled all my requirements and then some. Setup was a breeze - just open the box, take out the printer, remove the packing materials, put the toner cartridge in (piece of cake), put in a ream of paper, plug in to power and network and turn it on. On the Windows XP side, just put the CD in the drive and push the install button. The install software even automatically scans the HP site for updates. That's it! The thing automatically grabbed a DHCP address from my router, the install software took care of all the driver installation, etc. and I'm ready to go.

The speed and print quality of this thing is amazing. I use this Georgia Pacific ink jet paper that has a brightness rating of 94 and a weight of 24 and was blown away by the results. We're talking professional quality output at a rate that won't make you wait. Envelope printing is a breeze and, worked perfectly the first time I tried it. True, this unit does not have a page duplex feature (print on both sides), but I seldom would use this feature that typically adds considerable price and complexity to the equation.

The HP LaserJet 4100N gets my highest recommendation.

This printer is so easy to install, I just left the option on
for DHCP and within seconds our Wk2 and linux systems were
cranking out the print jobs. The built in web server and HP's
Web Jet Admin are a breeze to use. The 500 sheet paper
capacity means I dont spend most of my time reloading the paper
tray!! When I need to print on special media types, I just pop
open the front tray load and print, no fussing with changing the
paper out in the main tray. The 10000 documents per toner

cartride is a spectacular value which really becomes obvious when
those print jobs start flowing through with over 250 copies at
25 ppm and the toner indicator on the web page does not even
move.. wow!!! what a printer!!!

For the best in all round small workgroup printing (3 to 20 people), this is the perfect printer -- it works well with everything from MS-DOS and Windows to Unix, Apple, and even the IBM AS/400. It will continue to run 24 X 7 with little maintenance required. I have used this model and its predecessors (4050N, 4000N, etc.) in a hospital environment for over 5 years and the most serious repairs needed were a scheduled maintenance kit change (easy to do if you can use a screwdriver and read directions) and several paper jam incidents which are traceable to "wet" paper. (If you open a ream of paper, use it now; don't leave it on a shelf for 6 months.) The print quality is excellent for all general purpose business papers. If you want color and are picky about graphics, look to the Xerox Phaser. Also, I have no complaints about speed; again on normal business papers, you will not have to stand around and wait on these printers. As to suggestions for improvement: If you are going to use the printer in an AS400 or Unix environment, use HP's download manager(another excellent free product from HP!) to update "flash" the BIOS of the printer to latest versions. Lastly, if you are going to run a lot of paper or different sizes/weights through the printer, I would suggest you look at the HP Laserjet 4100tn instead.

The Jornada 540 extended battery is a useful product, because having an excellent and no extra power in time of need is just a waste of time having such a versitile and expensive machine. With this product you can enjoy much more operating time on your machine and further more you can recharge the Jornada 540 with this power pack. Recently I have bought the modem, a carrying case and soon to buy a camera for the said machine. Also I bought a 128 MB Flask Card.
I enjoy using this product.

I would like to sell this product in Barbados, because it is a splendid machine

Ronville Sparrock

Barbados

This is one item that's a must have.
Without the power pack,your PDA will run down. To the point
of Not working.
It charges your Pocket PC; PDA. Rest assure without its money down the drain . As far as PDA is concern. Lot of money that will
be of No Use without charging.
Come on it a must need product.Can't be without it.

I just got this little baby in the mail and already wonder what I did without it. As an avid Audible listener I sometimes put my ppc in my pocket and go about my errands while listening to an hours long book. Unlike my Walkman, my ppc's reserves can't be fixed with double A's so I've usually had to stop at some point to either stay tethered with the adapter cord or do without while recharging the unit. After charging the Power Pack, however, I'm able to go for hours and hours without worrying about how much I'm draining my battery. Also, I can multitask now, listening while working on the ppc, a luxury I didn't feel I could take too much advantage of before. IMO, worth buying.

Right now this is the cheapest drive available on the market and the equivalent drive offered by Lexar is over $1000!!!! Plus, many merchants are selling the drive for even less than Amazon!!! Take advantage of this opportunity!!!

The 4GB Compact Flash Compatible micrdrive is one of the best CF cards on the market, and its priced at a reasonably, and virtually uncheatable. Some of the newer jukeboxes don't use microdrives, so don't expect to find one when you crack open your mp3player and void your warranty!

Well, this is certainly a nice product. Much quicker than a 4Gb flash card, very sturdy and works in most CF cameras. But, are you ready to shell out more than $400? I know I am not, so here's a nice shortcut:

Step 1: Browse for the Creative Labs Nomad MuVo 4 GB MP3 Player on Amazon.
Step 2: Buy the player for $200.
Step 3: Unscrew the back of the player.
Step 4: Take out the 4GB Hitachi microdrive and throw away the player.
Step 5: Pop the microdrive in your cam, format it and voila!

There you have it for only $200, instead of the listed $480!

This is not so much a review as a cautionary note.

I've done a lot of research on filters and the such since my son tested positive for exposure to lead.

Both of the reviews of this filter (I have this or a similar Honeywell which is great but I am not sure which model.) Anyway, both of these reviews mention vacuuming the filter(s) to extend the useful life of the item. IF you are using a HEPA filtered vacuum, and only if you are using a HEPA filtered vacuum, should you think of this. But the cost of these filters is not so great that this makes much sense.

If you are not using a HEPA filtered vaccum, than all you are doing is sucking the stuff you don't want to breath out of the filter (which is what you bought the machine to do in the first place) and blowing it back into the air (which is what you boght the machine to prevent.)

Basically, the few bucks you save is not worth the risk.

HEPA filters were developed by the US Atomic energy commision to remove radio active particles from a contaminated environment. So they are more than sufficient for removing dust, mold spores, cockroach feces and dust mites which have been known to cause respiratory problems such as asthma.

Don't go by the light on the your Honeywell unit to tell when it's time to change the filter because the manufacturer wants you to change it as frequently as possible. When you find that the flow of air has slowed down and dust in the vicinity of the unit tends to collect more, then it's time to change the air filter. Also, vacuuming the outside of the filter may prolong the life. I vacuumed my HEPA and found that there was an increase in air flow afterwards and less dust collecting around the unit.

Before ordering a replacement HEPA filter for your Honeywell (or other brand) Air Cleaner, be sure to check the model number on the unit. This filter is for the smaller round unit (Model 10500) and for the smaller of the two upright units with handles (Model 17000). I replace my HEPA filter every year because I am very allergic to cigarette smoke, pollens, dust, molds, and other allergens and irritants. Also, this HEPA filter has pre-filters that wrap around it, so you may want to order a box of those, too. The pre-filters should be changed every 3 months, but I check them more often and vacuum off any accumulated pet hair.

It's a great toner cartridge for the HP 1100 series printers. As far as I know, it's the only option for said printers. Mine has lasted through about 18 months of regular home use (several thousand pages) without running out. I recommend ordering one when your old cartridge starts to show signs of running out, so you don't have to run out and search for one when you have something urgent that you need to print.

Best printer I ever had and this is the best price for this toner cartridge.

This toner cartridge is easy to replace and provides a crisp dark consistent print every time. It also comes with a UPS shipping label for free return to be recycled. Great idea!

I received the mx70 monitor as part of a HP system package purchase and my initial impression (that is, before I turned it on) was that this thing was probably a piece of junk. After all, it was just the "add-in" part of the package and it did have a goofy space age design and one of the notches for the monitor stand was broken out of the box.

Happily however, the mx70 proved me wrong in all respects. The 17 inch display opened a whole new world of picture that I did not get with my previous 15 inch monitor. The colors are quite vivid and the "goofy" space age design actually makes the monitor easier to view as its gray-scale colors do not draw the eye away from the screen.

In addition the menu mode on the monitor is easy to use and has a number of extra features including an advanced features menu as well as an advanced geometry menu that allows the user to change the geometric shape of the display.

Finally, the monitor has an incorporated serviceable microphone at the top of the monitor and whose connection runs along the monitor's connection to the tower.

I would highly recommend this unit.

I have recently purchased a new computer system: monitor, CPU, printer, and scanner. This monitor was the one I choose to go with my CPU (see my review for the hp753n system) based on the resolution of the display model in my local Circuit City. Vibrant colors and great readability on everything. Also, when watching DVDs on this screen, everything is clear and crisp just slightly smaller than watching on a standard TV:) I highly reccommend this monitor based on price and quality, an A+ model.

I recently purchased this monitor to go with a new Hewlett-Packard computer that I bought. Since I was upgrading my four-year-old CPU to this new system, I figured that I might as well upgrade the monitor, too. Previously, I owned a 15" monitor, and I was very surprised at the big difference between my old 15" and this new 17". The two extra inches goes a long way. Now, it is easier to fit documents onto the screen and I don't have to keep scrolling up and down while I am reading something. Also, the picture on this monitor is much better. The text is very crisp and clear. My old monitor looks hazy compared to how precise this one is. The graphics are much better, too. They are brighter and, again, crisper than on my old monitor. Another feature of this monitor that I particularly enjoy is the built-in microphone. I've had a lot of fun playing with it the past few weeks. Overall, the HP 17" monitor is a great product and makes for an excellent addition to your new or old computer.

I own an Epson R300. Have used Epson Premium Glossy 4X6, Kodak Premium 4X6 and Ilford Glossy 8 1/2 by 11. Epson Premium Glossy is superb. Kodak Premium is unacceptable. Ilford Glossy is superb. Being able to buy large quantity of Ilford at reasonable price means I will continue to use the Epson for 4X6 and the Ilford for 8 1/2 by 11. You can't go wrong with the Ilford. Inks are dry when printer finishes.

I use a S9000 - an awesome Printer by the way- and have tried these Papers:
Canon Photo Pro
Canon Matte
Ilford Smooth Gloss
Ilford Printasia Premium Photo Glossy
CompUSA Photo Paper

The Canon Photo Paper seems to be the best but also the most expensive. I would say almost equally good the Ilford Smooth Gloss. It comes in large supplies of sheets per packet (100/250) at a great price of under a half buck per sheet. The Ilford Printasia is a cheaper peace of paper and you happen to see the difference when you have the results right next to each other. It appears somewhat lither in color with slightly less contrast compared to the Smooth Gloss. It is also somewhat thinner than the other afore mentioned papers. Still a pretty competitive product regarding the price.
The Canon Matte is as the name tells you not glossy at all. I would only recommend it when you convert your picture with digitla darkroom technique to a kind of painting and than print it on this pice of paper to give it a painting like appearance. Other than that I wouldn't recommend it. Now on the CompUSA product. Don't let me even comment on it. It's a shame that a company wiht a good reputation puts out paper like this regardless the price. It doesn't dry and only smears the jets. Stay away!!!

Verdict
Absolute performance: Choose the Canon Pro
Good performance at an affordable Price: Ilford Smooth Gloss

I have tried all kinds and prices of photo - inkjet paper. This is by far the Best of any I have tried. The gloss is the highest and it is totally - touchable dry before it drops from the printer. Its hard to find. .... If you are into your photos - once you try this - you will buy nothing else.

This little sucker is almost too good to be true. Specs don't do justice to the LP130's size; you have to see it in person to appreciate just how tiny it is. Until then, just trust me... it's so small, it's kinda ridiculous.

But you don't seem to sacrifice anything for the light weight. It's just as bright and sharp as the other InFocus projectors I've used (I believe LP435z is the model), which is to say, plenty good enough for anything but hard-core videophiles.

Alright, there is one thing; the LP130 isn't cheap. But it certainly isn't unreasonable compared to other native XGA, 1K lumen ultraportables. Sure, it has the same black-level limitations as all DLP projectors. And it runs pretty hot, almost too hot to touch sometimes.

Those are minor niggles. Overall, this is the best projector I've seen.

I have owned an LP130 for over two years and the performance is outstanding. It is very portable, very powerful and very easy to travel with. Remember that InFocus projectors ship with the brightness set to 50% and that's normally all you need. Turn up the brightness up and you can project really large images. I am impressed with the simplicity of operation. Turn it on, it starts, turn it off it stops. People are blown away by the compactness and brightness. The performance has been exceptional and it has traveled all over the country, to Europe and Asia without a flaw.

I wish I owned the LP130. I've seen it in action and must admit it makes a major impression. But I'm lucky because I have a good friend who allows me to borrow this expensive business essential. Its small, light (three pounds), simple to operate, easy to travel with and can throw one heck of an image. The zoom lens will knock your socks off and the remote control allows whoever is giving the pitch to move about without restrictions. Be careful with it...it gets hot but this baby is worth it...it doesn't get much better than this when it comes to a light weight quality projector for professionals. If you need an edge...this is it. It oozes confidence.

My father bought this for me and it is a great game. Not only can the inexpensive camera be used for the great games, but if you have Microsoft Netmeeting, (available at Microsoft's website,) it works as a low picture-quality video conferencing camera. It is a great game for any kid between 6 and 12.

If you are like me you like things with great quality and a great price,this has a great price used or new .I would recomend this to anyone looking for this type of product.

this little game system is great for the road. little kids love it. it is so many games in one.