Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips
Wireless Hotel Review: Alexandria's Hampton Inn
Many of you have written to extol the virtues of the Hampton Inns: affordable rates, the ability to rack up points in Hilton's rewards program (Hampton Inns are a Hilton brand), complimentary hot breakfasts, and, most importantly, free wireless Internet access available throughout the properties.
During a recent stay at the King Street Hampton Inn in Alexandria, Virginia, I became a fan, too. I stayed in room 404, with two double beds on a nonsmoking floor, at $129 per night in mid May. The wireless signal in my room was excellent. To get online, I called the front-desk clerk, who gave me the required password (it changes every Sunday). Unfortunately, the desk and chair in my room weren't comfortable for typing. The hotel supplies a cushioned lap desk in each room, however, so I used mine to support my notebook while working in bed.
If you're planning a stay in the Washington, D.C., area, you could easily find more glamorous accommodations. But for business travelers on a budget, the King Street Hampton Inn--conveniently located near a Metro subway station and Alexandria's Old Town--will do just fine.
Notebook Review: Toshiba's Wide-Screen Satellite
At 6.3 pounds, the Toshiba Satellite M45-S351 ($1549) is fairly lightweight for a notebook with a 15.4-inch wide-screen display. You also get pretty good sound, with built-in Harman Kardon speakers. But unlike some other current multimedia portables, you can't use the notebook as a stand-alone DVD player, says PC World reviewer Carla Thornton.
Check the PC World Product Finder for the latest pricing.
Notebook Review: Toshiba's Tecra Feels a Bit Creaky
Toshiba's Tecra M3-S331 ($1799) has lots of attractive features, such as a quick-launch button that automatically switches to an external monitor, which is particularly handy for presenters. But the portable's magnesium alloy case did not feel sturdy, says PC World's Carla Thornton.
Get the latest prices at our Product Finder.
Notebook Review: Hewlett-Packard's Multimedia-Rich Pavilion
Having purchased an HP Pavilion Dv1000 notebook a few months ago, I read with trepidation Carla Thornton's review of the new HP Pavilion Dv4000 ($1189). The newer Dv4000 has a larger screen: 15.4 inches, compared to 14 inches for the Dv1000. But the larger screen translates to a slightly heavier weight of 6.7 pounds, compared to 5.4 pounds for the Dv1000. And as much as Carla likes the Dv4000, I saw nothing in her review that gave me buyer's remorse. Bless you, Carla.
As I write this the Dv1000 is still available, via the PC World Product Finder.
Compact PC Review: Shuttle's Latest Is Loud, But Powerful
The Shuttle, a build-it-yourself desktop PC that's so compact, it's portable, certainly has its fans. But with the latest model, the XPC SN25P ($420), the fans--of the mechanical, cooling variety--have become a problem, says PC World reviewer Tom Mainelli. With six internal fans, the system sounds like a jet about to land on your desk, Tom says.
Our Product Finder has the latest prices.
Gadget News: Portable Burners Support USB On The Go
BenQ will begin selling in September a new line of CD and DVD burners that support USB On The Go, a technology that lets you transfer data between USB devices without the need for a PC. With BenQ's new Pocket Writer DVD burner, for instance, you could transfer footage shot on a digital camcorder directly onto a DVD. The drives will also read CompactFlash, Secure Digital, MiniSD, MultiMediaCard, and Memory Stick media. The PW200-model will also have a Bluetooth wireless connection. Prices begin at $179.
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