Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)

There are two ways to look at Apple's newly reimagined MacBook laptops. They can be seen as more advanced, and in some ways more expensive, versions of the classic 13-inch MacBook, but we prefer to think of them as slightly stripped down, and less expensive, versions of the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro line. Some Internet commentators have even referred to the new models as the "MacBook Pro Mini."

Internally, the big news is an Nvidia chipset with improved integrated graphics, while the "unibody" aluminum chassis, the buttonless (or more accurately, all-button) touch pad, and edge-to-edge glass on the LED-backlit display are the major physical changes on the outside.

While the base model keeps the same $1,299 price (our review unit was the upgraded $1,599 version with a faster processor, a bigger hard drive, and backlit keyboard), you lose the FireWire port in the transition. And the $1,299 model gets you a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, rather than the 2.4GHz CPU. The higher-end model keeps the same 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, but also costs $100 more. Both new MacBook models operate on a faster front-side bus, (from 800MHz to 1066MHz) and move from DDR2 memory to DDR3.

Even with the slower base model CPU and missing FireWire, the new MacBook represents both an impressive value and an impressive feat of engineering--although it's hard to expect anything else from Apple's flagship computer product, which has been a consistent favorite for several years.

Price as reviewed / Starting price	$1,599 / $1,299
Processor	2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory	2GB, 1066MHz DDR3
Hard drive	250GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Nvidia GeForce 9400M
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated)
Operating system	Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Dimensions (WD)	12.8 x 8.94 inches
Height	.95 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	4.5/5.2 pounds
Category	Thin and light

The most obvious changes are physical. The familiar white-and-black bodies have been replaced with an aluminum chassis that looks nearly identical to the new MacBook Pro, only smaller. The actual construction for both the new MacBook and MacBook Pro now follows the MacBook Air model, with a solid block of aluminum carved down, rather than a thin outer shell that has had support struts added to it. The result is a lighter and thinner, yet stronger, chassis that feels more solid and substantial--a notable feat, as the previous MacBook models were already extremely sturdy.

Another notable new feature is a radically redesigned touch pad. This larger touch pad uses multitouch gestures similar to those found on the iPhone, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and offers a much larger surface area than previous 13-inch MacBooks--thanks to the elimination of a separate mouse button. In fact, the entire touch pad depresses like a button, although a simple tapping (as on a PC laptop) will also work once you turn that option on in the settings menu.

The all-button touch pad concept is actually a bit difficult to get used to, and feels slightly clunky at first compared with a traditional fixed-position touch pad. On the other hand, there are some useful new gestures: you can hide all your apps by sweeping four fingers up on the pad, and you can also designate one corner of the touch pad as a "right-click" zone. Most useful, perhaps, is sweeping four fingers left or right, which brings up the application switcher. Once you get used to that, going back to a regular touch pad would be difficult.

The 13.3-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for screens between 13 and 15 inches in size. It provides for text and icons that are highly readable, but we'd love to see Apple move into the 16:9 display universe, as in the case with new systems from Sony, Hewlett-Packard, and others.

Apple has also added LED-backlit displays (previously available on the Pro models), which means a thinner lid and some battery life benefits, plus the edge-to-edge glass we're seeing more often on multimedia systems, such as the HP HDX18. The glass, however, also grabs stray light rays with ease, making the glossy screen seem that much glossier--a problem if you prefer matte screen finishes.

	Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, Nvidia GeForce 9400M)	Average for category [thin-and-light]
Video	Mini DisplayPort	VGA-out, S-Video
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 2.0	3 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, SD card reader
Expansion	None	ExpressCard/54
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner

With only two USB 2.0 ports and no more FireWire, the new MacBook isn't exactly brimming with connections. Our two fondest MacBook wishes--an ExpressCard slot and an SD-card reader--have yet to come true, so photographers (especially those who use equipment with FireWire connections) may be disappointed--or encouraged to spring for a MacBook Pro. Apple is making a firm move to the DisplayPort camp by including a mini DisplayPort connection instead of mini-DVI or VGA, but a variety of external dongles (sold separately) will give you any video output you need.

In our benchmark tests, the new MacBook and its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU performed comparably to its predecessor, which is to say that basic multitasking and productivity are a breeze, as is streaming and viewing HD-video content--much as we'd expect from any current Intel Core 2 Duo laptop. While the hardware is largely similar, MacBooks score better on our Multitasking test than similarly configured Windows laptops (such as the Dell Studio 15), thanks in part to the efficiency of the Mac operating system.

lenovo laptops review

The W700ds isn’t a replacement or a refresh of the original, but rather, an optional upgrade to the same basic platform that makes good on Lenovo’s long-rumored promise to launch a notebook with dual displays. As NBR editor Jerry Jackson noted when he took a look at pre-production W700ds last month, one crucial area where desktop replacements have proved to be no replacement for a good desktop workstation is in the ability to pack up multiple displays and take them with you.

With a sliding 10.6 inch display that pops out from the space behind the original W700’s 17 inch panel, the W700ds still doesn’t have the screen real estate of two full-size desktop displays. But it also gives the W700 platform yet another leg up on its rivals, and, especially, another enticement for graphics pros on the go.

Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme Q9300 (2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB, 12 MB L2 cache)
• Memory: 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Screen: 17” 1920x1200 WUXGA TFT LCD and 10.6” 1280x760 TFT LCD
• Storage: 259 GB HDD (7200 RPM) x 2, RAID 0 configuration
• Optical Drive: DVD recordable
• Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 (802.11a/g/n), Bluetooth 2.0
• Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M with 1 GB
• Battery: 9-cell lithium-ion (84 Wh)
• Dimensions: 16.1” x 12.3” x 2.1”
• Weight: 10 lbs, 15 oz (with battery
• Price As Tested: $5,309.00
• Starting Price: $3,663.00

The W700ds sports a base price of $3,663, which is already more than a grand higher than the single-screen version. And as configured – with top of the line processing and graphics options – our test model will set you back considerably more. Dressed as seen in this review, you’ll need a spare $5,309 to cover the cost.

Because W700ds features the same fundamental technologies under the hood as the recently reviewed original ThinkPad W700, we’ve reused sections of that review where appropriate. All performance testing and benchmarking, however, is specific to this particular review unit.

Since my first look at the original W700, I’ve never tried to hide my feeling that Lenovo has done a lot right with this platform when it comes to designing a mobile workstation for graphics pros. Putting the question of its astronomical cost aside for the moment – after all, this will be a legitimate business expense with long-term return for most potential W700 buyers – Lenovo has put together a machine that, for commercial graphics or design work, really is almost impossible to beat.

In the time since our first W700 review, though, I’ve also had the chance to spend a lot more time with the original W700, and to get to know the W700ds seen here as well. And out of this experience, the general consensus around the NBR office seems to be that the W700 is a very good purpose-designed machine that only comes up short insofar as it only goes 90 percent of the way. For large-level systems – processor, primary display, graphics, memory – the W700ds checks all the right boxes. Rather, it’s the little things – like a second screen that’s a poor match, in terms of color and contrast, to the main display, or the thoughtful but not fully thought-out onboard tablet surface – that come to the fore.

Maybe I’m picking nits: after all, short of a desktop in notebook’s clothing or a one-off system, when it comes to raw performance the ThinkPad W700ds is tops. Likewise, the second display adds a lot of workflow value for graphics pros and others that will, quite literally, make the addition worth its weight. While I still believe, then, that for its core market, the W700ds is unquestionably a success, it’s certainly not perfect. And at this price, perfection may not be too much to expect.

tips for using laptops

1. the design of laptops violates a basic ergonomic requirement for a computer, namely that the keyboard and screen are separated. In the early days of personal computing desktop devices integrated the screen and keyboard into a single unit, and this resulted in widespread complaints of musculoskeletal discomfort. By the late 1970's a number of ergonomics design guidelines were written and all called for the separation of screen and keyboard. The reason is simple - with a fixed design, if the keyboard is in an optimal position for the user, the screen isn't and if the screen is optimal the keyboard isn't. Consequently, laptops are excluded from current ergonomic design requirements because none of the designs satisfy this basic need. This means that you need to pay special attention to how you use your laptop because it can cause you problems
2. Occasional users will have less risk of problems than full-time users. All users should pay some attention to how they use their laptop, but full-time users may have more problems.
   
3. as indicated above, laptops violate basic ergonomic design requirements, so using a laptop is a tradeoff between poor neck/head posture and poor hand/wrist posture.
   
4. many laptops offer large screens (15" plus) and can work as desktop replacements (giving the viewing area of a 17" monitor). However, think about where you will most use your laptop to help you choose the best size. The larger the screen the more difficult it will be to use this in mobile locations (e.g. airplane, car, train). There are a number of smaller notebook and ultraportable laptops on the market. Consider issues of screen size and screen resolution. A small screen (e.g.12.1") will be useful in mobile settings, but if the resolution is high (e.g. XGA - 1024 x 768) make sure that you can read the screen characters and can easily use the input device to point to areas on the screen. The smaller the laptop, the smaller the keyboard, so make sure that you can comfortably type on a keyboard that may be only 75% the size of a regular keyboard.
   
5. if you are a mobile professional who will be frequently transporting your laptop think about the weight of the system. By the word 'system' I mean the weight of the laptop plus the required accessories. Many lightweight portables can become as heavy as regular laptops when you add the weight of all of the components together. If your laptop + components weighs 10lbs or more then you should certainly consider using a carry-on bag that you can pull along. If you want a smaller bag and can comfortably carry your laptop consider a good shoulder bag design.