Top Rated Laptops/Notebooks - CNET's View

Not all reviews are created equal, just as not all users are created equal. For a great example, consider the importance of weight in a laptop. For some reviewers, it's not a major issue. If it is a key issue for you, then those reviewers might steer you in the wrong direction.
The highly talented reviewers at CNET have some very clear ideas.

Their top rated laptop is the Dell Inspiron. That's their view, but they don't have to carry this behemoth on their backpacks. In my book, a heavy laptop is automatically diqualified from the running.
Here are some of the top choices from CNET. For a full look at their reviews, click HERE

In the meantime, here's a preview, including their point ratings:

Dell Inspiron XPS (Extreme Edition)
The Inspiron XPS is a fantastic gaming machine, but you'll need a chiropractor if you try to travel with it. 8.8 Excellent

ThinkPad T30 2366 - P4-M 1.8 GHz - 14.1" TFT
The thin-and-light IBM ThinkPad T series offers an innovative design, top-notch performance, and tons of features. 8.7 Excellent

ThinkPad T40
The thin-and-light IBM ThinkPad T series offers an innovative design, top-notch performance, and tons of features.
8.7 Excellent

ThinkPad T41
The thin-and-light IBM ThinkPad T series offers an innovative design, top-notch performance, and tons of features.
8.7 Excellent

Dell Latitude C640 series
The Dell Latitude C640 thin-and-light notebook offers an unbeatable combination of speed and features.
8.6 Excellent

Acer TravelMate 803LCi
The Acer TravelMate 800 provides everything a nomadic computer user could ever wish for, including peak performance, long battery life, and an extensive list of features.
8.5 Excellent

Sony VAIO - New Product Coming

Sony next month will ship its new ultra-portable VAIO T-series notebooks, which are the first to be able to connect to cellular networks. A combination of hardware and software automatically links to Cingular's high-speed EDGE network in the U.S.

Sony's built-in SmartWi technology lets users toggle between various connectivity options by using the function keys. Users can choose WLAN / Wi-Fi connections, Bluetooth for peripherals, or WWAN for access to Cingular's EDGE network. (More)



VAIO T-series owners will receive free 30 day trial of Cingular's Wireless WAN Service when they sign up through Sony for a Data Connect plan of US $49.99 with a two-year service agreement, or the $79.99 Unlimited Data Connect plan with a one-year service agreement. When customers sign up for the $79.99 Unlimited Data Connect plan with a two-year agreement through Sony, customers receive 60 days of free service, according to Sony.

Cingular's EDGE network is available in 13,000 U.S. cities and towns and along nearly 40,000 miles of Interstate highways, at typical speeds of 70 to 135 kilobits per second (kbps), according to the carrier.

This VAIO T-Series notebooks weigh 3.04 pounds and promises 3.5 hours to 9 hours of use on a single charge, according to Sony. The notebook has a DVD+R double layer DVD+RW drive, Sony's Click to DVD software for one-click DVD burning, a 10.6-inch wide-format LCD with XBRITE display technology, and built-in Dolby technology for headphone surround sound.


Sony's VAIO Entertainment Software Suite includes applications for video editing, digital photo and music management, and VAIO Media software, an application for sharing digital content among PCs or compatible consumer electronics devices on a home network.

VAIO T-Series notebooks with a midnight blue chassis will be available in June starting at about US $2,200. Silver and burgundy color options will be only available online at sonystyle.com or at SonyStyle stores.

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