Two Ultralight Laptops Offer Lots of Features, Improved Portability
Walt puts two new full-featured ultralight laptops to the test and finds they both pass the in-flight exam.
Personal Technology
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Shopping for a Laptop? Expect Lots of Choices, And a Range of Prices
The “laptop” category includes a mind-boggling array of computers, and shopping for one can be trickier than buying a desktop PC. Walt Mossberg offers advice in his laptop buyer’s guide.
Info Appliance Offers Nice Touches, but It’s Costly, Has Limitations
Walt says the Pepper Pad, a new info appliance, mostly did what was promised, but it isn’t quite as easy and intuitive to use as its makers claim. And, at $799, it costs more than some laptops.
New Services Give You Reliable Ways to Keep All Your Files Updated
Many people resort to time-consuming methods for transferring key files between computers. Walt looks at services that automatically keep certain folders synchronized among multiple PCs, without any work on your part.
Sony’s New Laptop Is Smaller and Lighter, But Its Screen Is Bigger
Sony’s latest coup is an ultra-portable laptop series that manages to be both smaller and lighter than its predecessor while expanding screen size. An impressive design, Walt says, though the wireless capability has problems.
Imagine It: The Sun, Some Ancient Ruins, You With No Laptop
Walt tests his theory that it’s possible to leave a laptop home on some types of trips and rely on a combination of a high-end cellphone and an iPod. To his surprise, the no-laptop vacation worked really well.
Sony, Lenovo Laptops Are Pricey, but Offer Lots of Features, Power
Walt Mossberg tests the Sony Vaio SZ160 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X60s, and says for road warriors, these small, light, well-designed laptops are worth their hefty price tags.
Two Tech Leaders Aim For Bold New Portable, But Miss the Mark
Samsung’s Q1, an Ultra Mobile PC that’s smaller than the smallest mainstream laptop, goes on sale next week, but the machine is so deeply flawed in key respects that it amounts to little more than a toy for techies.
H-P and Lenovo Offer New Wave of Laptops: Small and Affordable
New diminutive, portable PCs, from H-P and Lenovo, should help lighten the briefcases of road warriors without lightening their wallets too much.
MacBook Laptop Lacks A Few Features But Has Lots to Like, Low Price
There’s a lot to like about Apple’s new MacBook, especially the price. Like other Intel-based Macs, it can run Windows alongside the Mac operating system. But it’s missing features that are standard on Windows-based laptops.
New Product for Mac Operates Windows, OS X Simultaneously
Apple’s Intel-powered computers can run both Windows and Mac OS X, but now there’s an even better approach. Parallels Desktop lets users run Mac and Windows programs simultaneously, giving them the best of both worlds.
It’s Time to Reduce The Tangle of Wires We Use for Gadgets
Walt Mossberg looks at the tangled collection of cables, chargers and spare batteries that he carries for his electronic devices and wonders why there isn’t more standardization.
Not Yet the Holy Grail: Nokia’s Tiny Computer Is Crisp, but So Slow
Nokia’s new tiny computer performs its main function, Web browsing, better than other pocket devices. But it falls down badly on many other tasks.
New Wi-Fi Routers Aren’t Any Better Than Last Year’s Gear
A new version of Wi-Fi, generally known as draft-N, promises greater speed, greater range and standardization, but may not deliver any of those things. Walt Mossberg tests some of this latest Wi-Fi gear, with mixed results.
Powerline Adapters Bring Internet Access To Your Entire Home
Using small gadgets called Powerline adapters, you can route your Internet connection around your house over your power lines. It really works and it’s fast, Walt Mossberg says. (Video)
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