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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Logitech Wireless Mouse M310 (Red Tendrills)

Logitech Wireless Mouse M310 (Silver)
Logitech Wireless Mouse M310 (Silver)


Modest mouse by the appearance of luxury. Surface gently in the palm of the hand with the movement is smooth and not stiff. Convenient scrolling wheel and the right in the palm of the hand. Does not require driver installation, plug and play and compatible to windows 7 and OS X Lion.With its contoured design and tiny nano-receiver, the Logitech Wireless Mouse M310 is the easy-to-use, full-size mouse that feels just right. It's part of The Fantasy Collection from Logitech. Fanciful patterns, dreamy colors: the style of imagination.Mouse is offered at a price of $ 22 with a choice of 5 color variations. Lowest prices Use for $13 to $16 or check..below for :

 

Up Date review from Apple MacBook Air MC965LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION)



Apple MacBook Air MC960 Series

4.0 out of 5 stars
Comparison to the 2011 Macbook Pro 13" and a Wifi Drop Problem, July 29, 2011
By. Wayne N
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC965LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION)
Updated January 9th, 2012 


I've owned the machine for 5 months now and have simplified the review for your convenience.


Things I like:


+ Light weight; 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). You can easily hold it with one hand - the MBP 13" is noticeably heavier at 4.5 lbs.


+ Solid build quality like the MBPs. Chassis is rock solid, no keyboard flex, screen housing is rigid with minor flex in the middle.


+ Better ergonomics than the MBPs; the palm rest edges don't dig into your wrists like the edges on the MBPs do.


+ Same fluid multitouch trackpad and the backlit keyboard makes a return.


+ The screen is a pleasure to use with it's high resolution (1440 x 900) and semi-gloss finish.
There is no glass cover so there will be dramatically less reflections compared to the screen of the MBPs
I personally chose the Air over the Pro because of reduced glare.


+ 18 second boot ups and 3 second shut downs. Resumes from sleep within 3 seconds.


+ The two USB 2.0 ports are on opposite sides of the laptop (less clutter than MBP)


+ Speakers are surprisingly loud; they can fill up a small room.


+ Runs extremely cool and it's so quiet that you'll wonder if the fan is running at all.
I can definitely feel heat ~ 87 degrees F on the MPB 13's underside after 6 hours of use
where as the MBA 13's underside stayed relatively cooler.


+ Runs Windows 7 just as cool and quietly. (I installed Windows 7 via flash drive)


+ Performance is almost identical to the MBP 13" 2011 on everyday tasks because the Core i5
CPU can turbo boost to 2.7 GHz and the SSD allows for instant application launching.


+ Gaming: it has the same Intel HD Graphics 3000 as the MBP 13" 2011. I was able to run
Starcraft II smoothly at low settings on native resolution. Medium settings also ran nicely but
you get less FPS during large battles. League of Legends ran smoothly at medium settings
30 FPS flat) on native resolution.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Things I don't like:


- *IMPORTANT* Wifi drops constantly on my unit (skip to the bottom to read more)


- The keyboard is shallower and has less travel than the MBP keyboards (you'll get used to it
within a few days)


- The screen has less color gamut than the MBP 13's screen. This screen covers only 46% of
sRGB color spectrum where as the MBP 13's screen covers 77%. For image editing,
I would use an external monitor.


- The vertical viewing angles aren't so great. One minute tilt of the screen causes colors to shift
dramatically (for example: a purple color can change from lavender to light blue as you tilt
the screen backward or forward). Again, I would use an external monitor for tasks in
which accurate colors are mission critical. For everyday use it's not noticeable and is
actually easier on the eyes than the glare-prone screens of the MBPs.


- Not all models come with the same SSD. There are 2 variations; a Samsung SSD and a
Toshiba SSD. The Samsung SSD significantly outperforms the Toshiba SSD in
benchmarks (check the AnandTech review)
To check what SSD you have, click on the Apple logo -> About this Mac ->
more info/system report -> then look on the left hand side and click on "Serial- ATA".
If your SSD's serial number starts with "SM" it's a Samsung and a "TS" means it's a
Toshiba.


- I personally get 5 hours of battery life max on a single charge while surfing with 10+ tabs open on safari; I got
~7 hours doing the same tasks on the MPB 13 2011. My activities included watching
YouTube videos, viewing flash content on tech and news sites, reading/writing email,
and using AIM.


- No FaceTime HD Camera (720p) as on the MPBs. The quality difference is, unfortunately,
very noticeable.


- The integrated microphone is located on the side of the laptop instead of on top of the keyboard
as on the MBP. During Skype calls, my buddies told me that my voice sounded muffled
when using the Air. Using a headset with a mic, I was able to improve the sound quality.


- The base of the machine developed a creaking noise within the first week of use. I suspect this to be
caused by uneven tension in the screws.


- after 5 months of, a white cluster of stuck pixels developed in the bottom left corner of the screen.
The machine has been handled with care so it's not accidental damage.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Conclusion: Which one should you get?
As a college student, I would recommend the Macbook Pro 13". The Air is more than capable of being a primary machine because
of it's superb performance and overall very good screen. For everyday tasks, it should be snappy and a pleasure to use.
However, students will get a $100 discount on the Pro while the Air only provides a $50 discount. This means that there is a price
difference of $150 for students. The storage space on the Air is imited to 128GB or 256GB while the Pro comes standard with 500GB.
Plus, you can always add a SSD to the Pro later on. The Pro will be the better choice for creative students because it's screen has more
color gamut than the Air's. Lastly, you are getting a full voltage processor which can make a difference
in video encoding or other CPU intensive tasks.


If you are not a student:
If you value the extra ports (Ethernet, Firewire, optical drive), a high gamut screen (although more reflective), and the ability to upgrade
later down the line - go for the Pro. If you prioritize portability (light weight), higher screen resolution, fast boot ups/shut downs,
and less reflections - go for the Air.


In everyday performance the Air feels faster when booting up and launching applications because of its SSD. In CPU intensive tasks,
the Pro will have a slight edge but not much. (the two CPUs are actually pretty neck to neck on GeekBench benchmarks). They both
have the same graphics chip but note that the Pro will get better battery life (1-2 hours more) than the Air because the Pro has a bigger
capacity battery (63.5 watt-hours vs. 50 watt-hours)


Unfortunately, my unit is affected with a wifi drop problem. I don't know if you will encounter the same issue but if you buy an Air from an
Apple Store, make sure to test the wifi out by using it on multiple networks. If you encounter any erratic wifi drops within
the first 14 days - demand a refund or an exchange.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Update - December 27th, 2011


After installing the 10.7.2 and a firmware update, the wifi connections in my dorm room became more reliable.


However, after taking it home I experienced drops as before on the home network. I DOUBT it's a problem with my
router because ALL other connected devices work fine. The 2011 MBP 13" I previously owned worked flawlessly on my network.


This is most likely a problem with the Air's drivers. 5 months after product launch, I don't believe Apple
has acknowledged the issue or either chose to IGNORE it as other users on the official forums continue to
have similar complaints even to this day.


Hardware wise, the casing held up well except for a scratch on the side. The lid is frighteningly thin and I've read
reports of the screen's fragile nature - cracking at the slightest bump by another object. I would handle with care.
Want to know something funny? With the machine off, I can see through the Apple logo on the lid if there's light
behind it - it's that thin.


Software wise, sometimes the machine would run hot with fans blazing full throttle when watching HD YouTube videos
and would remain that way even though I close everything. Very odd. A quick reboot solves the problem.


A creaking sound developed within a week of purchase. When I lift the machine up, press on the palm rest or type on it
there would be a creaking noise produced. I suspected the screws of the bottom to be loose so I decided to tighten them.
Note that you'll have to order a pentalobe screwdriver to do this - the screws aren't the typical type.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


January 9th, 2011


A cluster of 4-5 stuck pixels developed so I went to get a screen replacement. The Apple genius confirmed it was
4-5 pixels which qualified me for a screen replacement. Service was prompt and I got the machine the next day.
However, the new screen had 2 clearly visible dead pixels in the center of the screen. I tried using it for a few days
but they were an absolute distraction.


Dissatisfied, I took it back to another genius only to be met with rude service. I stated that the dead pixels hindered
functionality as they were visual distractions. He snidely responded with, "Where? I don't even see them" and remained
adamant about not replacing it because I didn't qualify for the "minimum of 5 dead pixels for a replacement" policy.
It was a disgusting and unsatisfactory session that did not help.


So there you go folks - if you bought a shiny new Air and later down the road you get 4 dead pixels or less, then
you're out of luck my friends. No matter how much the dead pixels distract you, Apple will not care. I'm sure the
technician was just protecting his job so Apple should be blamed for their dead/stuck pixel policy.


Even with the screen replacement (the screen houses the wifi module), wifi drops still occur so it's problem with
the drivers, not hardware. It's been 5 months since release and Apple has yet to acknowledge let alone fix the issue.
With all this in mind, my new rating of the Air is now sitting at 3/5 stars. The unreliable wifi, screen anomalies, bad
service policy and silence by Apple are what caused the lower rating.
Of course, the purchase is your choice - as an early adopter, I'm just warning you.





3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Looks, Speedy Laptop. Gets hot and loud under moderate CPU load., August 15, 2011
By. Alex Green "alx779" (Toronto, Canada)
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC966LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION)
I have been using my new 13" Macbook Air, 256GB, Core i7 for just over a week and here are my impressions...


First, the good stuff...


- The industrial design is absolutely gorgeous and rock-solid. The laptop is thin, light and pleasure to look at.


- Screen is 13" but the resolution is comparable to that of most 15"+ laptops. Perfectly usable for graphic/software development. While Macbook Air uses (supposedly) an inferior TN panel compared to Macbook Pro, I did not find a drastic difference between the two (I also own a 17" Macbook Pro). The Air has slightly smaller viewing angles and perhaps not as good colour reproduction, but the differences are subtle. Also, there's a lot less glare on Air's "glossy" display compared to glossy Macbook Pro.


- Performance is great, in some cases it bests the Quad Core i7 17" Macbook Pro, thanks to its SSD Drive. Startups/shutdowns are super fast and the applications open/close almost instantly. Having said that, do not expect to do any serious gaming on this little guy. The built-in Intel graphics chip has hard time handling even 5 year old games and is actually slower than nVidia chip on the previous generation Air.


- Expect to get about 4-5 hours of mixed use out of "7 hour" battery. That's what I average while doing some Photoshop and web dev work, browsing, listening to music and viewing a few video clips.


Now, the negatives...


Well, it's one negative really, but it is something I find extremely annoying. The laptop gets VERY hot when CPU usage approaches 50% and the fan kicks in full-blast at 6,000+ RPM.


I first noticed the excessive noise when I was transferring my data and applications from the time machine backup upon initial setup. The fan stayed on entire time, CPU temperature was approaching 90C while being only 30% utilized.


I continued to experience high heat/fan noise issues throughout the week. Sometimes it was during routine web browsing where some of the websites contained Flash elements. Starting Windows XP in Parallels would immediately set the fan in motion, again, sometimes hitting 6,000+ rpm. Playing Civilization IV, a fairly old game, had fan going full blast entire time with CPU again reaching 90C. Apple's own "Cosmos" screensaver brings the CPU temperature up to 80-85C and the fan up to 4500-5000rpm. The most annoying thing -- none of these tasks were taxing the CPU at more than 50%!


I did a fair bit of research on this issue. There are multiple discussions on Apple, MacRumours and other forums about excessive heat and fan noise. Also, many report increased heat on their older Apple laptops after upgrading to Lion, so perhaps (fingers crossed), there's a patch on the way that will improve thermal management somewhat.


The thought about returning the Air for refund did cross my mind, but I decided to keep it in the end. I am not a gamer and doing my work (web/mobile development) is not very taxing on the CPU, however, I do not think it is unreasonable to expect relatively quiet operation on such premium laptop with only 50% CPU usage. I can only hope that Apple is listening and looking to remedy the problem.


 
Up Date review from Apple MacBook Air MC965LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION)

Up Date review from Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)



5.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Worthy Investment, December 2, 2010
By. G. Argov 
(REAL NAME)
This review is from:  
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I have owned many Apple laptops and computers over the years, and without a doubt think that the 2010 13" Macbook Air is one of the strongest offerings the company has ever had. I am a 'power user' and use my laptop for heavy photo and video editing. I frequently have Photoshop running simultaneously with many other memory-intensive programs, including Windows 7 (through Parallels), and use my laptop for hours every day.


I purchased the 13" Macbook Air (which I'll refer to as 'MBA' for simplicity) directly from Apple, and added 2GB of RAM to make the set-up 4GB total. I do not know if Amazon allows you to customize it this way, so if it doesn't consider buying it directly from Apple or another store which does allow this upgrade. From what I understood, due to the MBA's construction - the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard - you won't be able to add RAM yourself later. If you're a light user, you should probably be fine with just 2 GB of RAM, but if you plan to intensively multi-task, consider upgrading the RAM.


This laptop is expensive, but is worth every penny if you can afford it. While it lacks an optical drive and certain ports - which can at times be inconvenient - it makes up for that by offering great performance and a stunning design.


DESIGN
I thought my 2010 13" Macbook Pro (which I'll refer to as 'MBP') was sleek and stylish, but this is just amazing. The MBP looks sleeker in some ways since its keyboard is backlit and its display has a nicer black trim to it, but in overall design, the MBA just can't be beat. You won't truly appreciate the Macbook Air's portability and stylish design until you physically play with it in person. The Macbook Air is very thin, but because it employs a tapered unique design it's not uniformly thin throughout the device.


The 13" model features 2 USB ports and an SD card reader (the 11" model doesn't have the SD card reader). The USB ports are cleverly located on opposite sides of the laptop so that you can have even bulky peripherals plugged in simultaneously. The built-in SD card reader is incredibly convenient (more on that below). What's more important to read here is not what connections it does have, but what it doesn't. The most important things missing on the Macbook Airs, in my opinion, are the optical disc drive and an Ethernet port. While I don't necessarily use - and therefore, miss - either of those too much, there are times when Wi-Fi is problematic or when you need to use a disc for something. Still, the Macbook Air has a great portable design that should offer more than enough for most people's daily use.


PERFORMANCE
Even with my heavy use, this has been very reliable for my daily multitasking. While some of that speed might result from my expanded RAM (mentioned above), the bulk of it comes from the Air's use of a Solid State Drive (SSD). While SSD technology is relatively expensivewhen compared to traditional hard drives on a per-Gigabyte basis, it is worth the money! You can find many comparison videos on YouTube showing how much faster Solid State Drives are when compared to traditional hard drives. The SSD really shines when cutting down the time when launching a program, or when turning the system on or off.


DISPLAY
The high-resolution display of the Macbook Air is great. The 13" Air features a 1440x900 resolution (like that of the 15" Macbook Pro), which is better than the 1,280x800 resolution of my 13" 2010 Macbook Pro. It is very sharp and crisp!


LIFE WITHOUT AN OPTICAL DRIVE
Some people have argued that the lack of an optical drive makes the Macbook Air impractical for daily use. Honestly, I have for the past several years used my optical drive very rarely, and knew I wouldn't miss it too much on the Air. That being said, you usually don't appreciate something until you no longer have it, and I have since noticed that there are times when having a built-in optical drive is convenient.


Since thumb drives and external hard drives are becoming very affordable, digital distribution of software and games is rapidly growing, and many videos are now available through streaming services as opposed to hard copy DVD forms, a lot of the inconveniences associated with lacking an optical drive can be worked around. That being said, there are times when an optical drive is necessary, especially when it comes to installing software (i.e. Windows).


While the MBA doesn't have one built in, you can 'Share' the optical drive of another computer wirelessly. That is understandably less convenient than having an optical drive physically connected to the same computer, so you can instead plug in an external CD/DVD drive through the USB port. The major inconvenience of doing this is that you have to buy an external drive. That being said, you do not need the Apple brand 'Superdrive', and can instead get a 3rd party external optical drive for a considerably cheaper price.


HAVING A BUILT-IN SD CARD READER IS VERY CONVENIENT
The SD card reader is very convenient, and helps compensate for the relatively small hard drive found on the Macbook Air. While my largest SD card is only 16GB, I find SD cards to be even more convenient than using a thumb drive. Without the built-in SD card reader you could always plug in an external SD card reader, but having it built into the system frees up a USB port.


BATTERY LIFE
If you've ever felt that your cell phone, laptop, or other battery-based device doesn't hold nearly as long a charge as it should, it's not just you. Battery life is something that a lot of electronics manufacturers frequently distort the truth about. Amazon often omits external links from reviews and replace it with a [...] so I can't paste the link, but on the Apple website's section on Macbook Pros, for example, they state in the fine text: 'The wireless productivity test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing various websites and editing text in a word processing document with display brightness set to 50%.' In other words, their battery life claims are based on situations many more intensive users don't find themselves in...


For the 2010 Macbook Air, Apple has supposedly changed their battery testing method from the aforementioned Pro testing, and used improved technology to prolong the battery life. The Macbook Air's battery is rated to last for around 7 hours, but you might get less than that with heavy use. I have been pleased with the battery life so far, but I have had less than 7 hours of battery life when I was using the computer intensively. While the battery life isn't the strongest of all of Apple's offerings, the 30-day standby time is very impressive. I believe that the impressive standby time is a result of the SSD drawing less power in sleep mode than a traditional hard drive.


COMPARED TO PREVIOUS AIRS
I was really intrigued by the Macbook Air when it was first announced in 2008, but couldn't justify the high price tag. Since with this generation prices have gone down considerably, all models employ Solid State Drives, and there are 2 USB connections (instead of just one), now is a much better time to buy a Macbook Air than ever before. The only thing changed for the worse is that this model does not have backlit keys - not such a big deal for fast typers, but probably inconvenient for people who 'hunt and peck'.


COMPARED TO THE 2010 11-INCH MACBOOK AIR
Prior to deciding on the 13" Macbook Air I considered the 11-inch model. While the 11-incher is lighter and smaller than the 13-inch model, I decided against it because I felt that the screen was too small to be reasonably effective for my intended use. Additionally, the 11-inch model lacks a built-in SD card reader - not a huge deal since external USB-based SD card readers are cheap - and also employs a weaker 1.4 GHz processor (as opposed to the 13-inch model's 1.86 GHz processor). You lose half a pound in weight going from the 13" and 11" models, but I decided a slightly heavier laptop was more worth it for the screen real estate. You will have to play with the models in store to see what works best for you, but if you like opening multiple windows side-by-side, you will more likely than not also prefer the 13" model.


COMPARED TO THE 13-INCH MACBOOK PRO
Due to the similar price points between this and the 13" Macbook Pro, the two computers naturally lend themselves to head-to-head comparison, which I'll focus the rest of the review on.


Comparing a 2010 13" 128GB 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook Air with 4 GB of RAM (again, upgraded, the default configuration is 2 GB) with my 2010 13" 250 GB 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro with 4 GB of RAM, I definitely felt the Macbook Air was faster. This is not an official comparison with benchmark tests - official benchmarks actually rated the Pro to be a faster machine - but for my use I felt things were noticeably faster with the Air's SSD in spite of its weaker processor.


Advantages Compared to Base Configuration 2010 13" Macbook Pro
Lighter (2.9 pounds vs 4.5 pounds)
Thinner (0.11 inches at its thinnest point and 0.68 inches at its thickest vs 0.95 inches)
Considerably faster in spite of a weaker processor (see below) due to its use of a Solid State Drive (SSD)
Higher resolution display (1440x900 vs 1280x800)


Disadvantages Compared to Base Configuration 2010 13" MacBook Pro
Slower Processor (1.86 GHz vs 2.4 GHz)
Smaller Hard Drive (128 GB vs 250 GB)
No backlit keys (Not a big deal for most, but some might find this inconvenient)
Fewer ports (the lack of an Ethernet jack can be a big inconvenience if you don't have secure Wi-Fi available)
No optical drive


FINAL THOUGHTS
The speed of a Solid State Drive is one of the selling points of the Macbook Air, but its ultra-portability is its stronger selling point (keep in mind prior to 2010 only the higher-end Air models featured SSDs). That being said, think of what's important to you. For students and business professionals who travel frequently, I think the Air is an ideal solution.


To those for whom speed is more important than portability, consider purchasing a Macbook Pro and upgrading its hard drive to a SSD yourself. You can also upgrade the Pro's RAM on your own, up to 8 GB (Air maxes out at 4GB, and you can't upgrade it yourself).


Think about what your primary use for the machine will be. If you don't have reliable access to Wi-Fi networks or need a CD/DVD drive regularly, you might find the Air constraining. For most people, however, the 13" 2010 Macbook Air is a great purchase that will offer a very powerful computer in an incredibly portable and sleek package.







4.0 out of 5 stars  
"Air" Benefits with Fewer Drawbacks!, October 23, 2010
By. Steve H "books911" (U.S.)
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I chose the 256 GB storage option model, but the other specifications on this machine are the same.
I do have fairly recent Mac desktops, but my own personal Mac notebook had become aged. It was a Powerbook.


With the release of iPad last Spring, I had considered not going back to owning a new notebook, with a desktop and iPad at my disposal.


However, I decided I simply need a keyboard for some on the go work, and my machine was simply too old now.


This October 2010 MacBook Air redesign is the answer for me. I will try to post some images of the device soon.


Physically, the footprint is not much different than a 13-inch MacBook or MacBook Pro that other members of my household own. However, it's the thinness and lightweight design that brings out the "wow," for those who see it. If you want to use it on your lap in a large chair or sofa, it is simply comfortable. If you need to stop while walking, and stand against a wall and check something very quickly, while it can still be slightly awkward, the light weight makes this possible. Still, I'd try not to do this, in fear of dropping the precious unit. You do see some Apple marketing images of people using the device standing up. This would likely be even more comfortable with the 11-inch model.


The reason one would choose this updated 13-inch MacBook Air is simple! This particular model gives you the thinness and light "wow," factors that defined the MacBook Air since its introduction nearly four years ago. However, this model gives you something that was not offered at this price point previously. A nearly fully functional and performing notebook computer. The included 1.86 GHZ Core 2 Duo processor is not a slouch. 2GB of memory is not bad in efficient OS X, and the decent storage. I chose the 256GB model, but for a second Mac, a light user, or someone with an external USB hard drive when back at there desk, even this 128 GB is not too far behind an entry hard drive notebook. PLUS, there is a huge benefit of this solid state storage. It is INCREDIBLY fast. The slight hit in processor and memory compared to a MacBook Pro is at least partly made up for by the speed of solid state memory. Just check out the boot up time on this device. It boots up fast. Plus, when it sleeps, open it back up, for instant on. It's a new way of experiencing a computer. If you need it to look something up, edit an image, or type a report, it's ready for you.


The battery life is impressive too. Apple is quoting 7-hours on this 13-inch model, and I will get close to that it appears. Apple is using a new battery testing standard than they have used to quote hours on previous systems. Therefore, this 7 hours quoted might be closer to the optimistic 10 hour advertised on the MacBook Pro than the numbers themselves would have us believe.


This 13-inch model has a higher resolution display than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so you will fit more of your windows, pictures, etc. on the display. Indeed, it matches the resolution of the stock 15-inch models.


What don't you get on this model and do I miss it? Obviously, once again, Superdrive is missing. I do not miss this. I have Superdrive on my desktop computer, and you can always buy the USB Superdrive for less than one hundred dollars, if you want that capability when at your desk. This Air loses the backlit keyboard, one suspects due to the even slimmer and lighter design. However, I type efficiently, so I only lose the cool factor of illuminated keys, not function.


Truly, with the add on of the USB superdrive for pinch situations, this particular model is a Mac that could actually be one's main computer. Decent processing speed, decent memory, and most of all plenty of solid state storage and the speed benefits of that storage. The graphics processor in this release is much improved over the previous generation too enabling watching of high definition videos. Two USB ports allow for connecting your iPod, external USB hard drive, USB Superdrive, printer, or whatever other USB device you might have. SD Card slot is included on this 13-inch Air model for the first time too.


Note - The brand new iLife '11 is loaded on this machine too. It's fun to try out the new features of iLife on a brand new computer! iPhoto 11 enhanced full screen mode is fun to use with this high resolution display!


Sure, a graphic designer, developer, or engineer might need more horse power or a larger display. However, a 2.9 pound Mac that is fully capable of being a great second Mac, or primary Mac, for many users is an incredible achievement. Do not let the significance of this creation not take us back a bit. It is an impressive feat. Recommend unit.







5.0 out of 5 stars  
The anti-reflective coating is finally good enough for me to consider glossy, November 18, 2010
By. Paul C. Huang "Paul Huang" (Arcadia, CA)
(REAL NAME)
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
This review addresses specifically the screen quality.
Those who demand desktop performance from a portable should consider the iMac. That being said, I have noticed that this low-voltage Core 2 duo 2.13GHz can easily keep up with its big cousins (MacBook Pro 13.3"). The performance is good enough, so I am unconcerned about benchmarks.


Let's look at the screen. Even if you have a tonal range of medium grey to complete darkness, the reflection on the screen is not as bothersome as the MacBook Pro's highly-reflective glass and the previous version MacBook Air's glossy screen (it, too, had a coating, but not as good as this version).


I am in my mid-40s, so I initially thought the 1440 x 900 pixels being squeezed down to 13.3" area may be too small for me to read. Not so. The increased pixel density and the increased contrast makes the text much more readable. Those who are skeptical should forget about the specifications and just see it in person.


I wouldn't consider the 11.6" because the screen's height has been chopped off 10% (16:9). This screen is 16:10. Those who think that 2.3lbs versus 2.8lbs is a big difference should think again. The smaller one has about 25% battery run time, which means you may want to carry the power adapter. It does not have an SD-card reader, which means another piece of cable (for camera) or card reader to lose. The lack of vertical space causes the user to scroll more. All these reasons combined, the 11.6" holds no advantage over the 13.3"--not to mention the fact that the processor and level-2 cache are not as robust as the 13.3" at the same RAM/SSD configuration.


* * * * * speed * * * * *
I thought I might as well mention a few things.
The unit I just installed is a 13.3", 2.13GHz, 256GB SSD, 4GB RAM


* cold boot to desktop: 13 seconds
* all MS Office 2011 applications take 1-1.5 seconds to launch
* iLife 11 apps all take about a second to launch, except Garage Band takes a bit longer to initialize. 



5.0 out of 5 stars
What can I say? Apple's got me hooked..., December 26, 2011
By. Paul R. Thomas "Paul R." (Texas, USA)
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I don't like to write reviews very often and I know I am late on the bandwagon here for writing reviews for the 2010 version of the MacBook Air 13.3" but I wanted to chime in anyway because I thought that this was a fantastic product and I wanted to help anyone else I could in deciding to pick one of these up.


To start; I decided I wanted the 2010 version of the 2011 version for a very specific reason, it had very little to do with the fact that it was older versus newer but more along the lines that I wanted the Nvidia 320M that the 2010 MacBook Air had over the Intel Graphics Processor that the 2011 MacBook Air had, it was a good decision for the light graphics intensive programs I wanted to use.


Up until now I have been a very dedicated PC user whose family was also a family of overly-dedicated Windows users. From a very young age, I was sort of raised on them and how they worked. I've built a number of Windows based desktop towers, purchased a number of Windows based laptops over the years by many different manufactures and am the current owner of an Dell/Alienware M17X R3 "Gaming" Laptop, of which I will discuss the contrasts between this, which is probably the "nicest" Windows computer I've ever owned.


I decided to purhase a MacBook Air, like many other adopters of Apple Computer goodies, because I was taken and fell in love with my iPhone 4S, which was a total impulse buy (I previously owned a simple flip phone.) and after how much I loved it, I decided to try a Macintosh computer. This was part because I loved how it functioned and part because I am a bit of a collector of gadgets. I also needed a computer to take to work, I have a very relaxed job, I used to bring the monster Alienware computer with me but it was just too much of a hassle, plus I had to bring a mouse because the trackpad was horribly uncomfortable to use.


So I looked into the MacBook Air because of it's portability, I almost purchased a MacBook Pro because I was unsure of if I wanted the optical drive and the added upgradeability that those machines have but as is indicated by my review (obviously) I do not regret making that decision at all.


So that's the "my story" if you will, now onto the more technical parts.


1. Memory/RAM - When I purchased the computer, this was probably what I was worried about the most next to the HDD, I was worried that with only 2GB, especially migrating off of a Windows laptop with 6GB that I would be very unimpressed. Not the case at all, many recommend you do the 4GB upgrade and perhaps if you are processing movie files in high-definition this would be an excellent choice. For me though, casual computing, playing some games, running Parallels for light Windows work I've not noticed any slow down at all. In fact, this may be just me being impressed, but I've noticed a lot less slowdown on this machine than on my Alienware when doing the same sort of activities; Internet, word processing, audio work, etc. So I think the word on this is, it depends what you're doing but I don't think you really need the RAM upgrade, I am perfectly happy with 2GB.


2. Hard Drive - The Hard Drive on this compared to most modern computers with spinning drives is of course, quite small. I have not had a problem with it at all, even with quite a few applications installed, larger ones I haven't even hit 70% yet and that's fine with me. This included my iTunes application library. I purchased the Air with the 128GB hard drive, for information's sake.


3. Processor - Another thing that worried me, but not as much as the others was that the processor might be slow, especially because I was used to the snappy performance of a quad-core processor on my Windows laptop. Impressed again by this, hardly an issue at all. Everything is responsive and quick to start and function.


For the longest time I switched the idea on and off in my head of buying a Macintosh computer because of a strange personal reason; I am a problem solver as most humans are and I kind of enjoy it in a mascohistic way, I love fixing my Windows computer when it messes up. Whether it's installing a new drive, graphics card, memory, etc whatever it is. I had a sort of wanting for it.


Mac is easier, that is for absolute sure and it's been a strange change in my life to not have any issues, to close the laptop and take it to work, open it and it still works the same. To close it for the night, open it in the morning and it still works the same. I don't know if I can really get used to how easy it actually is, but it is a good thing!


It's just a really nice thing to have in a computer to have it be so reliable and easy to use and not having to really worry about anything.


Of course the switch is not all easy, it's a little difficult to pick up the OSX but it's really not hard, a couple of hours is all you need.


Oh and I suppose I didn't mention this but the computer is physically impeccable and the nicest I've ever owned, just the feel of an aluminum computer is a really awesome experience and people who don't own or use one, that and I love the Magic Trackpad that all the newer models come with, that was one of the reasons I bought this as well, I love that I don't have to use a mouse in most situations.


In closing, I'll give this laptop the best compliment I can give it, in the time I have owned it, I have opened my Alienware, Windows based laptop (Which sadly cost twice the price of this one) perhaps six to seven times, in a span of weeks that is not a long time. The only thing it can do better than my MacBook Air is play some more graphically intensive games, I can't say for sure but I think that it will be being sold very soon.


I really think that switching that computer for this one, at the very least is a totally different experience in computing for me, it's a whole new world and I love that.






5.0 out of 5 stars
Macbookair, October 19, 2011
By. Katteach
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I love my Macbook air. It is so lightweight and convenient. I use a mac in school so switching to a mac at home seemed logical.




5.0 out of 5 stars  
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop, October 18, 2011
By. Kathleen Barnhart (SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, US)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
Apple MacBook Air came and was very easy to set up. Difficulty was trying to update operating system with Lion. In conversation with Apple, who has a very very good tech support, the passcode for the update was sent to office email, where as, the filters denied the access.








3.0 out of 5 stars  
Left a bit to be desired., October 4, 2011
By. Phraustie Huse
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
So I got this laptop for my girlfriend as she needed a laptop for school and the one she had was going on the fritz. This laptop needed software updates that took about 6 hours to get caught up to date. It doesn't have a disc drive so that means in order to install the program needed for school, we're going to have to either spend yet MORE money on MORE products or something else.






4.0 out of 5 stars  
Perfect for Students of the Humanities, September 17, 2011
By. Rachel DuBose
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I purchased my MBA 13" last October, and I haven't looked back. I previously owned a 13" white Macbook, and the difference is remarkable. I would say that this is a wonderful computer for students of the humanities, who do a lot of writing, research, and require a computer for entertainment purposes.


SPEED
I actually haven't seen any speed difference, but for what I use my computer for (writing and research), I wasn't expecting much. I do get significantly less "spinning beach ball of death" though. It is comparable to my older, C2D iMac for most tasks. Even running on only 2GB of RAM, I don't find any slowdowns or lockups, even when swapping between Word and several large PDFs.


STORAGE
128GB is not quite enough to hold up to my entire media collection, but I have an iMac for that. I use the cloud options through various other groups (in particular Google Music, Spotify, and Netflix) for my media consumption on the go. For others, this might not be acceptable, but the option exists for more storage; external HDDs are plentiful, as are 16/32GB SD cards.


BATTERY
I frequently get a full 7 hours out of my battery, screen halfway up, taking notes in class (including recording audio), wifi on. With wifi off that jumps a bit, and even more so if I turn the screen brightness down at night.


DURABILITY
This is part of the reason I think this is a wonderful computer for students. When I was moving in January, my computer took a 4' drop from someone's arms onto pavement -- nothing but a VERY small dent, and thanks to the Solid State Drive, nothing else was damaged. I actually have to look specifically to even find the dent that was made, it's so barely noticeable.


OSX LION
Other people don't like Mission Control, but I find it easier to use than Spaces, and get a lot more use out of it than I ever did Spaces. I tended not to be willing to screw about with the settings for Spaces, because adding applications to a particular space was a bit too nitpicky for me. It's much easier to do in the new version, and I think students will find it particularly useful. I keep four desktops: internet, music, writing, and schoolwork.


Features such as natural scrolling and the trackpad gestures I turned off, because I find them less than useful. I don't see a point in moaning about them -- as long as the option to remove them remains intact, I don't mind.






5.0 out of 5 stars  
Love my new MacAir, September 15, 2011
By. James T. Scott (Florida)
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION) 
I never owned a Mac before, and when my Toshiba went back for service the 4th time I thought it was time to upgrade to a new machine. I couldn't be happier, the Mac is so easy to use I wish I had owned it all along. I'm not the most computer savvy person, mainly e-mailing and net surfing, but the more I explore this machine the more I am in awe of what it can do, not to mention the 7 hour battery life. I know there are a lot of folks that complain about the cost of a Mac as opposed to a PC, I don't have an issue with that, it is IMO worth every cent.






3.0 out of 5 stars Revolution products, September 15, 2011
By. Tianshu Fan "Eva" (MI, USA)
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
This is the first time that one person can carry computer to everywhere. Besides Ipad, it has more function. And Apple is for those who smart enough to discover its function.






5.0 out of 5 stars Stupendous, September 13, 2011
By. Adam G. Schmalhofer (LANCASTER, PA, US)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
My item arrived 1 day ahead of schedule EVEN though my area was rocked by a tropical storm. Extremely Impressed.




5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking about switching from PC to Mac... Do it!, September 9, 2011
By. Clan Gardner "Gregor" (Durango, CO USA)
This review is from:
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
If you're considering switching to a Mac, I'd like to share my experience and its happy ending. Others have sufficiently reviewed and critiqued the Macbook Air from a technical point of view... so I won't reiterate that. Instead I'll briefly recount the thought process and experience of one guy making the transition.


I debated for a long time about whether to make the switch from my Windows based laptop to the Mac platform... I had bought my wife a Mac Mini two years ago and she has actually felt so-so about it. Her Mac is far more stable than her previous PC, which she appreciates. But--she feels--her Mac is not as amazing and "intuitive" as it was cracked up to be. We have discovered in the meanwhile that there is some truth to the idea that some people's brains just seem to resonate more with one system or the other. In many ways, she is more of a "Windows gal," as she puts it. Nonetheless, she has been very happy to have a system that is so stable and does not crash or freeze. And in most other respects, she has been satisfied.


So given her sufficiently positive experience, it made sense to seriously consider the idea of getting our entire household all on the same platform rather than having to duplicate software and OS upgrades moving forward.


Furthermore, I was increasingly having several issues with my laptop: slow-ish; prone to daily freezes or crashes; weird, buggy quirks that I could never seem to eliminate. Finally, being a (very) frequent business traveler, the weight of it (about 6-7 pounds, with the power supply), was a big drag. So given all these considerations, it was a natural to consider the switch.


So why didn't I make the leap right away???


My hesitation stemmed from several sources. 1st, I'd spent a chunk of money just a few years back on my laptop and its docking station--so the "Scotsman" in me was not too keen to switch to a new machine before thoroughly "amortizing" my previous investment, i.e. getting my full money's worth out of it! 2nd, the thought of having to transfer files, re-load software, re-establish internet and email settings, etc. etc. made me nauseous to even think about it... Finally, there would be some things on my Windows laptop that I wouldn't be able to use on my new Macbook Air (like receipt scanner software that goes with my Windows-based travel scanner... or my MS Flight simulator and joystick).


In sum, making the leap entailed some significant costs, monetary and otherwise.


Ultimately, after thinking through all the pros and cons, it boiled down to: (a) erase my laptop and reinstall XP (or purchase Windows 7) plus all other software to get all the performance issues resolved or (b) bite the bullet, pay the bucks, and make the switch.


In the end, the idea of running two platforms in one house just didn't make sense... and longer-term, it seemed like a fruitless struggle to keep myself chained to an inferior system... And, amidst that joyless scenario, I kept hearing fantastic kudos from friends and colleagues about the Macbook Air (MBA) and othe Macs... making it very alluring, indeed...


I did briefly consider the Macbook Pros... but I didn't really need any extra processing power that that decision might entail... and being a road warrior clinched it. The light weight, instant turn-on and turn-off of the MBA (plus the fact that I use fairly basic functions, like internet, email, Office, iPhoto, etc.) made me opt for the Macbook Air (MBA), which I purchased in July 2011.


I was, of course, chagrined to have them come out with the NEXT model just a month later... but the differences are fairly negligible, given my usage.


I did buy an external disk drive for the very occasional time when I might need it. In 2 months, I've only needed it 1 time, thus far. So not having to schlepp that embedded weight around is actually a huge plus. Similarly having "only" 2 USB ports has proven to be a non-issue. I have to switch out some cords now and again, but it is no big deal compared to the extra weight and clunkiness more ports would entail.


The transition from PC to Mac has been far easier than I anticipated all in all... and though not everything about the way a Mac functions is better or more efficient than Windows (sometimes there are some surprising, but minor, quirks and deficiencies), overall, I do indeed find the Mac experience, stability, and the fabled "intuitiveness" to be a joy. I just love this computer and it was worth every penny. I've never said that about any previous computer I've owned. And as light as it is, I actually use it around home just like an iPad... yet can do serious work on it.


So, if you're at all similar to me (50; long-time PC user; critical; appreciative of systems and equipment which work effectively and aesthetically; fairly basic computer user (though Mac is known for working
wonderfully for far more sophisticated functions than I need)... then life is too short not to make the switch. It really is a joy! 
                                     for:     See All Customer Reviews

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

OS X Lion or Microsoft Windows 7


Using OS X Lion softwere like to use your left hand while doing the activity. Habit of using the Windows operating system makes it a little bit stiff when using OS Xlion softwere. There are a lot of consumers I feel lost again when they use this softwere, a little dazed when confronted with a display monitor, such as not having direction, the recognition of a consumer. They intend to replace the OS, although with his top lap was forced to pay around $ 100 to buy Windows 7. I have a little struggle to shed some light on the OS X Lion is that consumers become more confident and there is little willingness to learn to get used to using OS X. lion One of the objections they have to learn is back, especially when using word processing applications the product congenital apple lap tops.

Though lion x has the advantages that are still not recognized by consumers, this softwere resistant to virus attacks, softwere it's designed that way, and this is a major plus for Me. I tend to side with Apple products because they have experience in a very sharp since the resolution of previous apple products. This may be a subjective assessment that I am, but the fact is so good to be presentation of a resolution for a long time I am positive assessment. Sofwere it was until now always been a focus in terms of display performance.


Key OS X Lion Features
    OS X Lion
  • Mission Control provides a bird's-eye view of everything running on your Mac.
  • Launchpad puts all your apps front and center for easy access.
  • View apps full screen and switch between them with a swipe.
  • Interact with your Mac using intuitive new Multi-Touch gestures.





Product Features

  • Master Apple 10.7 OS X Lion at your own pace from an expert
  • Visual training method, offering users increased retention and accelerated learning.
  • Breaks even the most complex applications down into simplistic steps
  • Comes with Extensive Working Files
Learning Apple 10.7 OS X Lion - Training DVD - Tutorial Video 
Number of Videos: 110 Lessons - 6.75 Hours Duration
Ships on: DVD-ROM
User Level: Beginners
Works On: Windows 7,Vista,XP- Mac OS X

In this computer based Apple (10.7) OS X Lion training video from Infinite Skills, expert author and trainer Andy Anderson delves into the latest and greatest operating system from Apple. Version 10.7 of the popular Macintosh operating system, Apple Lion adds many features and functions, from full screen apps to Launchpad and Mission Control, this update to OS X just makes using your Macintosh computer easier and more enjoyable! Starting with the basics of installing your copy of OS X Lion, Andy Anderson teaches you how to get the most out of this operating system, and its included software. This video training course covers topics such as working in the Finder, the Doc, Launchpad, Dashboard, Spotlight, Expose, Spaces, Securing your Mac, Mobile Me, Gestures and more. Also covered is popular software included with Lion such as Safari, Apple Mail, iTunes, iChat, and iCal. By the conclusion of this video based training course, you will be fully capable of installing, navigating through, and operating your Macintosh computer with OS X 10.7 Lion installed.

    Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray


    In Stock:
    List Price: $569.99
    Price: $419.99
    You Save: $150.00 (26%) 


    • 32GB Internal Memory (Solid State Drive)
    • Android Honeycomb 3.1
    • WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 1 GB RAM
    • 8.9" WXGA TFT display, 1280 x 800 resolution
    • Bluetooth v3.0, USB 2.0 port

    Processor: 1.2 GHz ARM 610
    Ports and Connectivity
    USB Ports: 1
    Cases and Expandability
    Size (LWH): 0.34 inches, 9.09 inches, 6.21 inches
    Weight: 15.84 ounces
    Power
    Battery Type: Nonstandard Battery
    Wireless
    Wireless Type: 802.11bgn




    Samsung Logo
    Samsung Product Shot
    • Under 1 pound and only 0.34 inches thick for great portability
    • Adobe Flash compatible for unrestricted web browsing
    • Android 3.1 OS with open access to over 200,000 apps for full customization
    • Dual-core Tegra 2 processor and 1 GB of RAM provide power and speed
    • One-year warranty

    Google services
    Dual-Core Processor Provides Speed and Power
    A dual-core Tegra 2 processor and 1 GB of RAM deliver lightning-fast speed whether you're surfing the web, watching HD video, or playing the latest games. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 also features Adobe Flash compatibility, allowing you to experience unrestricted browsing on millions of web pages and play any Flash compatible game with no buffering, stalling, downloads, or plug-ins. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, the Galaxy Tab offers endurance as well as power.
    The Galaxy Tab supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth v2.1 connections. A 30-pin IF connector and USB 2.0 compatibility offer easy file transfer and charging.
    Gaming
     
    Light, Sleek Body with HD Display Ideal for Gamers
    At less than 1 pound and measuring 9.1 by 6.2 by 0.34 inches (H x W x D), the Galaxy Tab is remarkably light and won't cause fatigue during prolonged use, so gamers can play all day and road warriors won't have any problems. The easy-to-grip tablet is designed to fit comfortably in your hand and bag and travel with ease.
    Enjoy your media in beautiful clarity thanks to the Galaxy's 8.9-inch WXGA widescreen display with 1,280-by-800-pixel high-definition resolution. The widescreen aspect ratio lets you see more of the original image without cropping or black bars.
     
    Access to Android Market for Full Customization
    The Galaxy features the Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system, which offers exceptional speed and power for immersive web browsing and multitasking. With open access to Android Market--the fastest growing app market--over 200,000 apps are only a touch away, giving you the freedom to customize your tablet for all of your web and entertainment needs.
    Android Market
     
    Intuitive Android OS Designed for Multitasking
    Since Android 3.1 is designed specifically for tablets, computing is visual, fluid, and intuitive, making multitasking a breeze. The Quick App Tray can float above other applications, keeping important tasks at your fingertips, while multiscreen scrolling allows you to view up to five screens at the same time. The system's enhanced browser includes tabbed pages, form auto-fill, bookmark syncing with Google Chrome, and private browsing.
     
    Integrated Google Services
    Android 3.1 also features key Google services that you can easily access through convenient apps on your home screen. Use Google Maps with the Galaxy Tab's built-in GPS to point out your current location, search for businesses and addresses, and get directions. View your Gmail inbox and conversations side by side, and drop Gmail widgets on your home screen to stay on top of all your accounts. The mobile YouTube app provides a simple way to search, browse, and watch videos on your mobile device, while Google Talk lets you swap between multiple chats at a time, search your chat history, and see previews of videos and images within conversations or video chat.
     
    Back- and Front-Facing Cameras
    The Galaxy Tab is equipped with a 3-megapixel camera for snapping crisp pictures and capturing 720p video. It also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for Google Talk video chat. You can share Tab content on your HDTV through the Tablet Extender feature, or stream it wirelessly with Allshare.
    Samsung media hub
     
    Compatible with Popular Media Formats
    Designed to handle all of your portable entertainment needs, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is compatible with major audio, video, and image file formats, letting you enjoy all of your media whenever and wherever you please. Stay entertained with Samsung's music and media hubs, where it's easy to purchase a wide range of content, including music, books, and magazines.
     
    Reader's Hub App Connects You to Millions of Titles
    The Reader's Hub app turns the Galaxy Tab 8.9 into an enhanced e-reader. Users have easy access to over 2 million titles of books, newspapers, and magazines. Content is visually arranged on a virtual "bookshelf" for easy access, and subscription content is dynamically updated daily (for newspapers).
     
    Security Suite Ideal for Business Use
    The Galaxy Tab is compatible with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files, making it ideal for handling your business needs as well as your entertainment. An enterprise-friendly tablet, the Galaxy Tab includes a suite of security solutions. Relationships with SAP, Exchange ActiveSync, Cisco AnyConnect, Sybase, and Cisco WebEx make it possible to operate efficiently, confidently, and securely.
    The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is backed by a limited one-year warranty.
    What's in the Box
    Galaxy Tab 8.9 (32 GB), 30-pin IF connector, USB 2.0 cable, charger and plug, earphones, product registration, and instruction manual.  
     Samsung Logo


    4.0 out of 5 stars Loving it!, December 29, 2011
    By 
    D. Heronemus - 
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    As an avid iphone lover (I have a 4S), thought I would give Android a try for my tablet. Love the small, light form factor on this - makes my wife's ipad look like a bit of a clunker!

    High-res screen is great as well, plenty of room to type, read, watch videos, etc. Occasionally the slightest of lag when using it, most of the time as snappy an ipad.

    Overall I'd buy this again. I've had it for two days now, becoming proficient, comfortable using it. Definitely spent more time setting this up the way I wanted it than I would an Ipad - but enjoy having the widgets and customization.

    In short, love my iphone for quick handy tasks on the go, but prefer this for sitting on the couch and casual surfing.

    Couple of must have apps for all of you new to Android - Dolphin Browser for pad, Newsr, News360, Score Mobile.


    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Tablet for the price and form factor, January 18, 2012
    By 
    M. Chawla "MSC001" (Atlanta, USA)


    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    I had this tablet along with the Asus Transformer Prime in my possession during the holidays. Had both of them to play with for about 4-days, and in the end returned the Asus Transformer Prime! Now many folks would question my decision....but let me tell you...the handling, the ease of use and dimensions of the Samsung 8.9, beat any 10" tablet out there.


    When it comes to 10" Android tablets, Asus TP is the way to go. But if you are like me...work full time all day long and want to sit and catch up with other email accounts that you do not access at work, watch some video and use the tablet as a remote for Roku -- there is no question that the 8.9" tablet is the way to go. It is just so much more convenient to use than 10" tablets.


    While I have not tried playing with 7" tablets for long, my initial impression was that I was compromising on the screen quite a bit. So I am happy with my 8.9" tablet.


    The functions are smooth, Samsung has added its own mini-task applications that I have gotten used to now (did not like it initially)...the virtual keyboards are nice and so, I think I made a good decision.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, January 23, 2012
    By 
    Louise N Clark 
    Amazon Verified Purchase
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    Our house is split betweeen an Ipad2 user and a Droid geek. I researched lots of tablets before deciding on the Samsung 8.9 for myself and I am so pleased that I purchased two more for my active families with grandkids. I really like being able to access the file structures and manipulate my device. It is important to me to know that I can add, delete or move pictures, music, and documents as I choose. I wanted the flexibility offered by an Android device. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 size is enough smaller and lighter than my husband's Ipad2 that I find it more convenient to put in my bag and hold in one hand. I also highly recommend the Nataal Premium Stylus for all capacitive screens and the rooCase Dual Station Black Leather Case...with Stand and Elastic Hand Strap for the 8.9 Galaxy Tab.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Only the screen is downsized, January 30, 2012
    By 
    A. Dent "Aragorn" (Minas Anor, GD) (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    This 8.9" Tab is basically the 10.1", only a little smaller with all of its good and some not so good features. I am not going to go into 'specs' because they are available at Amazon and at Samsung's own site (yes, there's Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and so forth) but I will discuss my week-long experience of using it.


    I am not sure if 8.9" is the sweet spot in tablets but it's good that, unlike a certain rival, Samsung is moving away form the 'one size must fit all' philosophy. I am personally okay with 10.1" but the slightly smaller size may appeal to those who do a lot of on-screen thumb-typing. Also, since the resolution is the same 1280x800 you get a higher pixel density that improves on the 10.1" impressive display.


    POSITIVES


    - Lighter - Smaller means a couple of ounces lighter. A possible advantage if you're using the Tab as a reader.
    - Super-responsive to touch, possibly even more so than the 10.1" Tab.
    - Flash 10.2 is not only supported but it comes pre-installed - one thing not to worry about.
    - Samsung adds its own mini apps tray. In the end you pick your favorites from the market but some choice is always a positive.
    - Size, of course. Anyone who gets the 8.9" picks it for its size so, again, choice.
    - Great forward and rear facing cameras, same as the 10.1"
    - Dual-core processor handles Honeycomb with ease and, hopefully, makes it a good candidate for a future ICS upgrade.
    - You can have the Android market and the Amazon Appstore installed.


    NEGATIVES


    - Memory can't be expanded due to lack of a microSD port (but 32GB should be sufficient)
    - No HDMI port either
    - Backside could be a little thicker


    RATING


    I had the opportunity to use the 8.9" Tab for one week, swapping our recently-upgraded ICS (Android 4) XOOM, mainly because a friend was eager to experience the 'new' Android. In the end, we were both favorably impressed with the other's tablet and agreed that we could live happily with either.


    While I understand that the some could miss an HDMI and an SD slot the reality is that my XOOM has them and the only time I actually used them was while testing my tablet. I did not miss them on the Tab during the week I had it for myself. I prefer the 10.1" format myself but I must admit that the crisper display was quite attractive.


    In the end, the 'negatives' are not such a big deal. I can say that I loved playing with the smaller Tab for a few days.
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is the BEST!, December 29, 2011
    By 
    anna bee "anna bee" (iowa)
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    After weeks of research, online, discussions, readings, and also first-hand testing, I've found this Tablet meets my needs to perfection. I prefer it over my iPad.
    Light, fast, wonderful display, and user friendly (Android), this is also great size for all my needs.


    This one is a winner!
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right!, February 5, 2012
    By 
    goofysmom "goofysmom" (Central FL) 
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    I've felt sort of like Goldilocks in my quest for the perfect android tablet. First I bought the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (from amazon) which I loved but it was large. Then I bought the Kindle Fire which was too small. Then I found the Galaxy Tab 8.9 which is just right! I did have some serious issues with the 10.1 when Samsung pushed 3.2 in late November and mine bricked. Of course, this had to happen while I was out of the country. Was able to get wifi back, but not bluetooth and autorotate. When I got home, sent it back to Samsung. BTW, their first-tier customer service was/is totally clueless. I knew more about the Tab than the rep. Second-tier was fine, however. While the 10.1 was gone, I ordered a Kindle Fire. It was lots of fun but small, kind of clunky, and a bit limiting in what it could do. So I sold the replacement 10.1 on ebay and bought the 8.9 at Best Buy. Couldn't be happier. Perfect size - small enough to fit in my handbag, but large enough to type on. Very easy to hold. Bought a couple of handy little adapters on ebay which allow you to charge it with a micro USB, same as my phone. I totally recommend Samsung tablets, especially the 8.9!
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rest Assured - You May Ignore The Previous Review, February 17, 2012
    By 
    sj 
    Amazon Verified Purchase
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    This is the most useful and well designed non-iPad tablet available.


    1. The price is right.
    2. Honeycomb is now at version 3.2 for this device (via painless download) - with Ice Cream Sandwich on the way!
    3. Strikingly gorgeous screen.
    4. Very fast for an Android device.
    5. Perfect form factor.
    6. Oodles of onboard memory.
    7. The GPS unit works just fine for earth dwellers; whether you are traveling by car, train or bus; hiking, biking, boating, etc.


    Hey Steve - It's not an HTC Flyer after all! - pun intended :)


    You simply can't go wrong with this device.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nice little device, February 19, 2012
    By 
    J. Martinez (California USA)
    (REAL NAME)   
    Amazon Verified Purchase
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    I had a hard time deciding between the 10.1 Tab and the 8.9 inch tab. In the end price won me over to the Tab 8.9. I am glad purchased the smaller one. It is not to small and not too big.


    On to the review. I work in the computer field so I have access to many different devices. What makes this on unique is the size and weight. It is just so easy to take with me, I find that I am reaching for it more and more over the other laptops, tablets, etc that I can use. I am finding I can do more and more with less. Mostly I use the device for web browsing and checking my e-mail. For that it works perfectly. I use the built in Activesync connector to sync with my work e-mail and calendar. My schedule and e-mail sync automatically when I am in range of a wifi network. The battery life is excellent and I can use it all day without charging it. The built in bluetooth has been nice and so I used that to hook up a bluetooth stereo headset so that I can listen to my music off it without a tether. I can't say it is a good replacement for a laptop, it isn't but I can do most of what I need to off it. I decided it was a good replacement for my netbook which has a limited keyboard and mouse anyway.


    Pros: Lightweight, easy to use out of the box and excellent battery life. It uses the Android system which has access to many free applications. This is superior to the very locked down and Flash-less IOS in my opinion. No need to go Apple. The pre-loaded applications are great and you don't need much more but can always go to the Android market and get what you need. The device does multitasking and has nice powerful processor to handle the work comfortably.


    Cons: The ad on this page is wrong. This device contains no USB connector. Although it wasn't a big issue for me, Amazon needs to fix the ad. I bought the Samsung connection kit which has a USB connector and SD card connector. There is one connector which you use for syncing or charging and that is it. This may be limiting for some folks. Networking the device with your home network is awkward. This really needs to be improved and kept me from giving it a 5 star rating.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Handy Communication Tool, February 13, 2012
    By 
    grambo007
    Amazon Verified Purchase
    This review is from: Samsung Galaxy GT-P7310MVGR (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet - Metallic Gray (Personal Computers)
    I agonized over the choice of an easy to use Tab before selecting the Samsung Galaxy 8.9, 32 GB model. The i-Pad was the major competition in my mind. I wanted something a little smaller than the i-Pad with similar options. Though the Galaxy falls short of the i-Pad's apps range, it satisfies my needs for communications on the go and I highly recommend for anyone who just wants the basics and is not into the apps available. I like the smaller compact size, also, it fits a large pocket when I do not wish to carry a brief case. Good value for money and very useful for e-mail and web searching.

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