Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011
The good: Incremental updates to the CPU help keep the MacBook Pro line a step above the now-mainstream MacBook Air. The trackpad and gesture controls are still the best of any current laptop.
The bad: Unless you need an optical drive, the MacBook Air may be a better fit for most, and the Pro still lacks things we'd like to see, such as HDMI, Blu-ray, and USB 3.0.
The bottom line: A MacBook Pro is a significant investment, especially when adding in optional upgrades. Cost aside, there's not a better choice (there are, however, some close ties) for an all-around powerhouse that will work in the home, the office, and in between.
The bad: Unless you need an optical drive, the MacBook Air may be a better fit for most, and the Pro still lacks things we'd like to see, such as HDMI, Blu-ray, and USB 3.0.
The bottom line: A MacBook Pro is a significant investment, especially when adding in optional upgrades. Cost aside, there's not a better choice (there are, however, some close ties) for an all-around powerhouse that will work in the home, the office, and in between.
Editors' note: On October 24, 2011, Apple updated the MacBook Pro line with new CPUs, larger hard drives, and new graphics options. The upgrades were very minor, and the bulk of our review of the 15-inch MacBook Pro from earlier in 2011 still stands. We've added upgrade and contextual notes below, as well as new benchmark test results.
The latest round of updates to Apple's popular MacBook Pro line were modest enough that they simply appeared on the Apple Web site with little fanfare beyond a basic press release. Rather than a generational jump as we saw in February 2011 (when the Pro moved from Intel's original Core i-series CPUs to the latest second-generation chips, formerly code-named Sandy Bridge), this is perhaps better described as minor housekeeping.
In the 15-inch MacBook Pro, we previously reviewed the more high-end of two starting configurations. That $2,199 unit had a 2.2GHz quad-core i7, whereas the $1,799 model had a 2.0GHz CPU. The biggest change is that the $1,799 model now has that 2.2GHz quad-core i7, and the $2,199 model moves up to an even faster 2.4GHz CPU. The GPU options are now a 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6750M in the lower-priced version and a 1GB AMD Radeon HD 6770M in the more expensive one. Default storage remains the same for the 15-inch models, but the 13- and 17-inch MacBook Pros have their own set of CPU, GPU, and HDD updates, the details of which are here.
Note that this time around we tested the new $1,799 15-inch MacBook Pro, whereas our previous 15-inch MacBook Pro review sample was the $2,199 version, so we're effectively looking at the same CPU in both cases.
The iconic unibody aluminum construction remains the same, as does the large glass multitouch trackpad. Thunderbolt, Intel's new high-speed powered port for data transfer and displays, remains an interesting extra, but its promise is still hypothetical, with few available Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals.
This 15-inch MacBook Pro, at $1,799, follows the usual Apple trajectory of keeping the price steady but adding faster, more powerful components. The latest round of upgrades, while not revolutionary, helps give the Pro line a boost at a time when the less-expensive MacBook Air has become such an excellent mainstream laptop that it could easily substitute for the Pro for many potential MacBook buyers who don't need an internal optical drive or bigger screen.
By now, the shape and size of the MacBook Pro should be very familiar. Even more recent designs, such as the second-generation MacBook Air, are variations on it. The basic building block remains the same: a solid chunk of aluminum, which is carved down into a shell with support struts. This unibody chassis has the benefit of being thin (for a 15-inch laptop), but strong and flex-free at the same time.
The touch philosophy that informs the iPad/iPhone line of devices can be said to have its roots in the large multitouch clickpad-style trackpad that's been a staple of the MacBook Pro for years. The multitouch gestures, slightly revamped recently for OS X Lion, are incredibly useful. Once you get used to them, going back to a regular touch pad is difficult. Several Windows laptops have added larger clickpads over the past year or so, with somewhat similar multitouch gestures, but we can easily say that none can yet compete with the MacBook's implementation.
The 1,440x900-pixel display is still higher-resolution than many 15-inch laptops (which are 1,366x768 pixels), and two screen upgrades are available: a 1,680x1,050-pixel version for an extra $100, or a 1,680x1,050-pixel "antiglare" version for $150. Of the current MacBook lineup, only the 11-inch Air has a 16:9 display; Apple is otherwise the only major computer maker still widely using 16:10 displays.
The big difference between MacBooks and other laptops in the ports and connections category is the recent port based on Intel's Thunderbolt high-speed I/O technology. If it looks a lot like the Mini DisplayPort connection on older MacBooks, that's because it is the same, except for the tiny lightning bolt logo next to it. It still functions as a DisplayPort output, and in fact, you're able to daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices or displays to that single port.
Thunderbolt is technically capable of 10Gbps bidirectional transfer, and if Intel and Apple have their way, it may replace many other kinds of ports and connections in the future, but there are only a handful of peripherals that work with it currently.
Also notable on the 2011 MacBook Pro (including the version we tested earlier this year) is a 720p Webcam, which works with the new Mac version of FaceTime, the same video-conferencing app found on the iPhone and iPod Touch. With a solid Wi-Fi signal, jumping into full-screen mode was clear and mostly stutter-free. There's also an onscreen button for changing the video window from portrait mode to horizontal, and video calls can be made between MacBooks and iPhones as well. You can read more about FaceTime for Mac here.
But while Thunderbolt and FaceTime are interesting extras, the real muscle behind the new MacBook Pro is the quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU and AMD Radeon HD 6750M GPU. These parts were previously found on the higher-end 15-inch Pro, and now are the default loadout for the less-expensive base model. In our CNET Labs benchmark tests, the new MacBook Pro performed impressively, and was almost exactly matched with the Winter 2011 MacBook Pro we tested. Keep in mind that we're comparing the April 2011 high-end configuration with the October 2011 entry-level configuration.
The AMD Radeon HD 6750M in our review unit is a solid GPU, and a nice jump over the Radeon 6490M previously offered with the $1,799 15-inch Pro. As with the previous few generations of MacBook Pros, the discrete graphics swap out with the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics as needed, saving battery life as you go.
Price: $1,698.00 - $1,799.00
The latest round of updates to Apple's popular MacBook Pro line were modest enough that they simply appeared on the Apple Web site with little fanfare beyond a basic press release. Rather than a generational jump as we saw in February 2011 (when the Pro moved from Intel's original Core i-series CPUs to the latest second-generation chips, formerly code-named Sandy Bridge), this is perhaps better described as minor housekeeping.
In the 15-inch MacBook Pro, we previously reviewed the more high-end of two starting configurations. That $2,199 unit had a 2.2GHz quad-core i7, whereas the $1,799 model had a 2.0GHz CPU. The biggest change is that the $1,799 model now has that 2.2GHz quad-core i7, and the $2,199 model moves up to an even faster 2.4GHz CPU. The GPU options are now a 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6750M in the lower-priced version and a 1GB AMD Radeon HD 6770M in the more expensive one. Default storage remains the same for the 15-inch models, but the 13- and 17-inch MacBook Pros have their own set of CPU, GPU, and HDD updates, the details of which are here.
Note that this time around we tested the new $1,799 15-inch MacBook Pro, whereas our previous 15-inch MacBook Pro review sample was the $2,199 version, so we're effectively looking at the same CPU in both cases.
The iconic unibody aluminum construction remains the same, as does the large glass multitouch trackpad. Thunderbolt, Intel's new high-speed powered port for data transfer and displays, remains an interesting extra, but its promise is still hypothetical, with few available Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals.
This 15-inch MacBook Pro, at $1,799, follows the usual Apple trajectory of keeping the price steady but adding faster, more powerful components. The latest round of upgrades, while not revolutionary, helps give the Pro line a boost at a time when the less-expensive MacBook Air has become such an excellent mainstream laptop that it could easily substitute for the Pro for many potential MacBook buyers who don't need an internal optical drive or bigger screen.
| Price as reviewed | $1,799 |
| Processor | 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core |
| Memory | 4GB, 1,066MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 500GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel H67 |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon HD 6750M / Intel HD 3000 |
| Operating system | OS X 10.7 Lion |
| Dimensions (WD) | 14.4x9.8 inches |
| Height | 0.95 inch |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.4 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 5.5 pounds / 6.2 pounds |
| Category | Midsize |
The touch philosophy that informs the iPad/iPhone line of devices can be said to have its roots in the large multitouch clickpad-style trackpad that's been a staple of the MacBook Pro for years. The multitouch gestures, slightly revamped recently for OS X Lion, are incredibly useful. Once you get used to them, going back to a regular touch pad is difficult. Several Windows laptops have added larger clickpads over the past year or so, with somewhat similar multitouch gestures, but we can easily say that none can yet compete with the MacBook's implementation.
The 1,440x900-pixel display is still higher-resolution than many 15-inch laptops (which are 1,366x768 pixels), and two screen upgrades are available: a 1,680x1,050-pixel version for an extra $100, or a 1,680x1,050-pixel "antiglare" version for $150. Of the current MacBook lineup, only the 11-inch Air has a 16:9 display; Apple is otherwise the only major computer maker still widely using 16:10 displays.
| Apple MacBook Pro (Fall 2011, 15-inch) | Average for category [midsize] | |
|---|---|---|
| Video | DisplayPort/Thunderbolt | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader, eSATA |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | DVD burner | DVD burner |
Thunderbolt is technically capable of 10Gbps bidirectional transfer, and if Intel and Apple have their way, it may replace many other kinds of ports and connections in the future, but there are only a handful of peripherals that work with it currently.
Also notable on the 2011 MacBook Pro (including the version we tested earlier this year) is a 720p Webcam, which works with the new Mac version of FaceTime, the same video-conferencing app found on the iPhone and iPod Touch. With a solid Wi-Fi signal, jumping into full-screen mode was clear and mostly stutter-free. There's also an onscreen button for changing the video window from portrait mode to horizontal, and video calls can be made between MacBooks and iPhones as well. You can read more about FaceTime for Mac here.
But while Thunderbolt and FaceTime are interesting extras, the real muscle behind the new MacBook Pro is the quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU and AMD Radeon HD 6750M GPU. These parts were previously found on the higher-end 15-inch Pro, and now are the default loadout for the less-expensive base model. In our CNET Labs benchmark tests, the new MacBook Pro performed impressively, and was almost exactly matched with the Winter 2011 MacBook Pro we tested. Keep in mind that we're comparing the April 2011 high-end configuration with the October 2011 entry-level configuration.
The AMD Radeon HD 6750M in our review unit is a solid GPU, and a nice jump over the Radeon 6490M previously offered with the $1,799 15-inch Pro. As with the previous few generations of MacBook Pros, the discrete graphics swap out with the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics as needed, saving battery life as you go.
Price: $1,698.00 - $1,799.00
MacBook Air Summer 2011 
The good: The 13-inch MacBook Air has been updated with the latest Intel CPUs for better performance and battery life. Backlit keyboards make a welcome return.
The bad: The 128GB SSD drive is a lot smaller than a standard hard drive. This also starts at $100 more than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
The bottom line: The latest version of the 13-inch MacBook Air vastly outperforms its predecessor, and can finally be called suitable for mainstream use, instead of relegated as a niche product.
The bad: The 128GB SSD drive is a lot smaller than a standard hard drive. This also starts at $100 more than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
The bottom line: The latest version of the 13-inch MacBook Air vastly outperforms its predecessor, and can finally be called suitable for mainstream use, instead of relegated as a niche product.
As with most Apple products, the MacBook Air has moved into an annual update cycle, taking it from the original niche product version to its new perch as Apple's mainstream laptop line. With that, we've also seen a continued mainstreaming of the system's components and capabilities over the course of three generations.
Apple's new Air models hold last year's prices, the 13-inch model starts at $1,299, but while dramatically upgrading the processing power: the new second-generation Core i5 processor in the base 11-inch and 13-inch Air is a jump of two Intel generations, going directly from the older Core 2 Duo CPUs past the first generation of Core i5/i7 chips and directly to the 2011 second-generation Core i-series.
Physically, the new MacBook Air looks and feels identical to the one from October 2010, with one important exception. Both the 11- and 13-inch models now include a backlit keyboard, a much-missed feature in the previous generation (in a CNET poll, 26 percent of readers listed a backlit keyboard as their most-wanted new MacBook Air feature).
Thunderbolt has been added to the both Airs as well, replacing the Mini DisplayPort (the new combo port acts as a Mini DisplayPort output as well). At the moment, it's more of a novelty than anything else, with few accessories available, but Apple's upcoming Thunderbolt Display, intended for use with laptops, seems intriguing.
The most obvious non-component-related change to the MacBook Air line is the preinstalled OSX Lion software. If getting this new operating system update is your primary goal, it's available for any Intel-powered MacBook for $29--so there's no reason to trade in your last-gen Air just yet.
With 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage, the 13-inch Air is a better bet for trouble-free mainstream computing than the 11-inch version, which defaults to 2GB of RAM and only a 64GB SSD (of which, only around 48GB is available to use). The trend toward cloud storage makes this less of a problem than it might have been, but you may want a little more breathing room.
Now that it uses current-gen Intel CPUs, the MacBook is definitely a viable everyday laptop, rather than a specialty product--its performance was very close to the 2011 13-inch MacBook Pro in most of our benchmark tests, and its battery life similarly excellent.
Both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the MacBook Air have the same thickness, ranging from 0.11 inch to 0.68 inch, but spread over the larger footprint of the 13-inch chassis, the 13-inch body has always seemed especially thin.
As with the 2010 version, which this is physically indistinguishable from at first look, the rigid aluminum construction makes the Air feel sturdy enough to just throw in a bag and carry along with you without a protective case or sleeve. The trade-off there is that the 13-inch Air feels a bit heavier than its thin body would lead you to expect, especially compared with the 11-inch version or an iPad.
While the keyboard and trackpad are the same (backlighting aside) as on the previous 11- and 13-inch models, using the new OS X Lion gestures can take some getting used to. The gestural language is now even further divorced from the Windows standard. For example, you no longer double-tap-and-drag to move a window: instead, just use three fingers while hovering over the title bar. The four-finger flick to return to the desktop has been reassigned to a feature called Mission Control, which shows all active apps and alternative desktop screens. To get back to a clean desktop, you now pinch out from your thumb and three fingers. There are several other new gesture tricks, and fortunately the System Preferences menu shows animated examples of each one.
Our standard enthusiasm for the unmatched Apple trackpad and excellent keyboard remains, and applies to both sizes. Other laptop makers have also moved to larger clickpad-style touch pads, but we have yet to find a touch pad that comes close to this for multitouch gestures. The pad is again hinged at the top, allowing the entire pad to click down, and we suggest going into the Preferences menu and turning on all of the tapping options for further ease of use.
Unlike the 11-inch MacBook Air, the 13-inch screen is not a 16:9 display. The screen area also lacks the edge-to-edge glass over a black bezel found in other MacBooks; instead the screen is surrounded by a thick silver bezel. We thought this made it less attractive than the MacBook Pro back in 2010, and that continues to be the case.
On the positive side, the native resolution of the display is 1,440x900 pixels, which is a better than the current 13-inch standard of 1,366x768 pixels. The current 13-inch MacBook Pro has a lower resolution of 1,280x800, and does not offer any higher-res screen upgrades, meaning this Air has the highest-resolution 13-inch display you can get from Apple (not to be outdone, Sony's Air-like Vaio Z crams a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen into a 13-inch laptop, although at great expense).
Price: $1,498.00 - $1,599.00
Apple's new Air models hold last year's prices, the 13-inch model starts at $1,299, but while dramatically upgrading the processing power: the new second-generation Core i5 processor in the base 11-inch and 13-inch Air is a jump of two Intel generations, going directly from the older Core 2 Duo CPUs past the first generation of Core i5/i7 chips and directly to the 2011 second-generation Core i-series.
Physically, the new MacBook Air looks and feels identical to the one from October 2010, with one important exception. Both the 11- and 13-inch models now include a backlit keyboard, a much-missed feature in the previous generation (in a CNET poll, 26 percent of readers listed a backlit keyboard as their most-wanted new MacBook Air feature).
Thunderbolt has been added to the both Airs as well, replacing the Mini DisplayPort (the new combo port acts as a Mini DisplayPort output as well). At the moment, it's more of a novelty than anything else, with few accessories available, but Apple's upcoming Thunderbolt Display, intended for use with laptops, seems intriguing.
The most obvious non-component-related change to the MacBook Air line is the preinstalled OSX Lion software. If getting this new operating system update is your primary goal, it's available for any Intel-powered MacBook for $29--so there's no reason to trade in your last-gen Air just yet.
With 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage, the 13-inch Air is a better bet for trouble-free mainstream computing than the 11-inch version, which defaults to 2GB of RAM and only a 64GB SSD (of which, only around 48GB is available to use). The trend toward cloud storage makes this less of a problem than it might have been, but you may want a little more breathing room.
Now that it uses current-gen Intel CPUs, the MacBook is definitely a viable everyday laptop, rather than a specialty product--its performance was very close to the 2011 13-inch MacBook Pro in most of our benchmark tests, and its battery life similarly excellent.
| Price as reviewed | $1,299 |
| Processor | 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-2557M |
| Memory | 4GB, 1333MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 128GB SSD |
| Graphics | Intel HD3000 |
| Operating system | OS X 10.7 Lion |
| Dimensions (WD) | 12.8 x 8.9 inches |
| Height | 0.68 - 1.1 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 13.3 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 2.3/2.7 pounds |
| Category | 13-inch laptop |
As with the 2010 version, which this is physically indistinguishable from at first look, the rigid aluminum construction makes the Air feel sturdy enough to just throw in a bag and carry along with you without a protective case or sleeve. The trade-off there is that the 13-inch Air feels a bit heavier than its thin body would lead you to expect, especially compared with the 11-inch version or an iPad.
While the keyboard and trackpad are the same (backlighting aside) as on the previous 11- and 13-inch models, using the new OS X Lion gestures can take some getting used to. The gestural language is now even further divorced from the Windows standard. For example, you no longer double-tap-and-drag to move a window: instead, just use three fingers while hovering over the title bar. The four-finger flick to return to the desktop has been reassigned to a feature called Mission Control, which shows all active apps and alternative desktop screens. To get back to a clean desktop, you now pinch out from your thumb and three fingers. There are several other new gesture tricks, and fortunately the System Preferences menu shows animated examples of each one.
Our standard enthusiasm for the unmatched Apple trackpad and excellent keyboard remains, and applies to both sizes. Other laptop makers have also moved to larger clickpad-style touch pads, but we have yet to find a touch pad that comes close to this for multitouch gestures. The pad is again hinged at the top, allowing the entire pad to click down, and we suggest going into the Preferences menu and turning on all of the tapping options for further ease of use.
Unlike the 11-inch MacBook Air, the 13-inch screen is not a 16:9 display. The screen area also lacks the edge-to-edge glass over a black bezel found in other MacBooks; instead the screen is surrounded by a thick silver bezel. We thought this made it less attractive than the MacBook Pro back in 2010, and that continues to be the case.
On the positive side, the native resolution of the display is 1,440x900 pixels, which is a better than the current 13-inch standard of 1,366x768 pixels. The current 13-inch MacBook Pro has a lower resolution of 1,280x800, and does not offer any higher-res screen upgrades, meaning this Air has the highest-resolution 13-inch display you can get from Apple (not to be outdone, Sony's Air-like Vaio Z crams a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen into a 13-inch laptop, although at great expense).
Price: $1,498.00 - $1,599.00
Samsung Series 7 (15-inch)
The good: The Samsung Series 7 laptop has a thin screen bezel, a sleek and attractive metal chassis, and plenty of processing power and features, along with an extremely impressive battery life and a crisp backlit keyboard. Dedicated AMD graphics also come included.
The bad: While the large multitouch click pad is the same size as a MacBook Pro's, it's not as responsive. This pricey laptop also lacks Blu-ray and a 1080p screen.
The bottom line: Samsung's Series 7 Chronos 700Z5A-S03 is the closest Windows equivalent to a MacBook Pro in terms of specs, power, and design and even nearly matches on battery life, but it's $500 less expensive than an entry-level Apple 15-incher.
The bad: While the large multitouch click pad is the same size as a MacBook Pro's, it's not as responsive. This pricey laptop also lacks Blu-ray and a 1080p screen.
The bottom line: Samsung's Series 7 Chronos 700Z5A-S03 is the closest Windows equivalent to a MacBook Pro in terms of specs, power, and design and even nearly matches on battery life, but it's $500 less expensive than an entry-level Apple 15-incher.
First came the Series 9, then the Series 3; Samsung, an increasingly impressive manufacturer of laptops, has chosen to make 2011 the year to debut a variety of notebooks delineated by series numbers. The Series 7 line falls between the high-end Ultrabook-style Series 9 and budget-targeted Series 3, and includes both a 15-inch laptop and a Windows slate. The $1,299, 15-inch Series 7 Chronos NP700Z5A-S03 resembles, in terms of price and specs, a Windows version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
To some it may seem like a lazy comparison, but it's far more apt than you may realize: this Series 7 has a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, a 1GB AMD Radeon graphics card, a backlit keyboard, a sharp aluminum design, a slot-loading DVD drive, and a gigantic multitouch click pad, all similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. While $1,299 is at the top end of the mainstream Windows laptop spectrum, it's $500 less than the entry-level 15-inch MacBook Pro, with equivalent performance and then some. Particularly impressive? A battery life of more than 6 hours and a higher-resolution 1,600x900-pixel display.
This isn't a slam-dunk killer laptop--not having Blu-ray is odd, and the touch pad isn't as silky-smooth as a MacBook's--but the Series 7 is, overall, a pretty excellent product at a price that's not terrible when you consider the components.
A sleek, clean aluminum design. Magnetic hasp. Center hinge. Tremendous click pad. Where have we seen this before? The easy comparison--and the one most people will make--when they see the Series 7 will be the Apple MacBook Pro, a design that's been around since 2008. The deeper similarities are to Samsung's own product lines, including the QX series, and the clean metal looks of some Asus laptops and Sony Vaios. The industrial-style design is very appealing--even more so when you get up close to appreciate the details.
It's not all roses; despite seeming like a unibody design, the edges reveal the seams. There's a slight amount of flex to those edge connections, and to the palm rest and back lid. The Series 7 Chronos doesn't feel honed from a single slab of metal, or anywhere near that, but its dimensions are very similar to those of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, while having a slightly shallower footprint between the back of the laptop and the front of the palm rest. At 5.3 pounds, it's a little lighter than both the Pro and the slim Sony Vaio SE.
This Samsung makes efficient use of its edge-to-edge real estate, both with its keyboard and screen. A very thin bezel surrounds the 15.6-inch display, with practically no wasted space. The raised island-style keyboard and number pad also span the crisp edges, recessed below the palm rest so the keys come up flush. It's not often that keyboard keys are striking, but these are: the squared edge-lit keys have glowing letters and glowing blue-white sides. They're also among the cleanest-feeling Samsung keys I've ever used.
A large click pad below has the right idea, but the wrong execution. The click pad is off-center because of the number pad, creating a narrow palm-rest area on the left. Also, the pad itself simply isn't as responsive as the equivalent Apple version. My fingers sometimes grazed the surface with little response, and two-finger gestures like scrolling got a little jumpy. It's closer than the Asus Zenbook's pad, but it's still subpar.
Controls such as volume and screen brightness are function-key-activated, meaning you'll have to fumble for the Fn button. I was expecting function-reversed keys on a high-end laptop like this. A large circular power button on the top right is all the Series 7 offers outside of the keyboard.
The big, bright 15.6-inch display offers two surprises: it's matte, a virtual rarity in laptops nowadays, and it has a larger-than-average 1,600x900 resolution. The former helps to reduce glare, obviously. For photos, videos, or games, I'd argue that matte seems to dull the picture down ever so slightly, but overall the end result here is that the Series 7 is better off for the matte finish. Viewing angles for movies, games, and documents deteriorated once the screen was tilted even a little bit: view this display head-on only.
Stereo speakers with grilles tucked away inside the center lid hinge provide ample volume and clarity for Web videos and even casual music. They're equivalent to the quality of those found on other slim laptops like the Vaio SE and MacBook Pro.
An HD 1,280x1,024 Webcam comes bundled with CyberLink YouCam software. The camera quality is good, better than the average, but not quite as excellent as recent HD Webcams I've seen on $1,000-plus laptops such as Dell's XPS series.
I wasn't surprised by the ports and features on the Samsung Series 7 Chronos; they're in keeping with most midsize laptops. USB 3.0, Bluetooth, HDMI. The Ethernet port on the left side is unusually compressed--a small pull-down tab opens the port up to full size. Also, the normally standard VGA port has been replaced with a mini video port that connects to an included dongle. Saving valuable space makes sense, but this laptop isn't svelte enough to necessitate such maneuvers.
There are several similar versions of the Samsung Series 7 Chronos laptop 700Z5A; some have only 6GB of RAM, others in retail configurations appear to drop Bluetooth and the extra VGA dongle. Comparing it with equivalent Sony Vaio SE and Dell XPS 15z configurations, the Series 7 offers a very similar set of specs. The 15z almost completely matches on price and specs, although the 15z has a 1080p display; the Vaio SE is more expensive in a $1,499 version, but also has a Blu-ray drive. It's a full $500 less than the closest entry-level MacBook Pro, but everyone expects Windows laptops to undercut Apple on price.
A 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-2675QM processor is similar to what's available on the Sony Vaio F236FM, fall 2011 MacBook Pro 15-inch, and Toshiba Satellite P775-S7320. Performance is, as to be expected, speedy; the Series 7 slightly outperformed the Toshiba Satellite while being a bit slower than the Sony Vaio, though on single-task benchmarks they were quite similar. The real advantage to a quad-core processor comes from advanced tasks that use the cores at once; most mainstream computing would do fine with a dual-core Core i5 processor without sacrificing too much speed, but the extra power here comes in handy for gaming, among other things.
AMD Radeon 6750M graphics offer a satisfying level of gaming power: Street Fighter IV ran at 53 frames per second at native resolution, while Metro 2033, a far more demanding game, ran at 11.3 frames per second at native resolution and high graphics settings. Dialing down graphics settings or playing at 1,366x768 pixels should help most games be very playable. I'd call this laptop gaming-friendly, but wouldn't call it a gamer's laptop.
To some it may seem like a lazy comparison, but it's far more apt than you may realize: this Series 7 has a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, a 1GB AMD Radeon graphics card, a backlit keyboard, a sharp aluminum design, a slot-loading DVD drive, and a gigantic multitouch click pad, all similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. While $1,299 is at the top end of the mainstream Windows laptop spectrum, it's $500 less than the entry-level 15-inch MacBook Pro, with equivalent performance and then some. Particularly impressive? A battery life of more than 6 hours and a higher-resolution 1,600x900-pixel display.
This isn't a slam-dunk killer laptop--not having Blu-ray is odd, and the touch pad isn't as silky-smooth as a MacBook's--but the Series 7 is, overall, a pretty excellent product at a price that's not terrible when you consider the components.
| Price as reviewed | $1,299 |
| Processor | 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-2675QM |
| Memory | 8GB, 1,333MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 750GB 7,200rpm |
| Chipset | Intel HM67 |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon 6750M / Intel HD 3000 |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 14.3x9.4 inches |
| Height | 0.9 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.6 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 5.3 pounds / 6.3 pounds |
| Category | Midsize |
It's not all roses; despite seeming like a unibody design, the edges reveal the seams. There's a slight amount of flex to those edge connections, and to the palm rest and back lid. The Series 7 Chronos doesn't feel honed from a single slab of metal, or anywhere near that, but its dimensions are very similar to those of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, while having a slightly shallower footprint between the back of the laptop and the front of the palm rest. At 5.3 pounds, it's a little lighter than both the Pro and the slim Sony Vaio SE.
This Samsung makes efficient use of its edge-to-edge real estate, both with its keyboard and screen. A very thin bezel surrounds the 15.6-inch display, with practically no wasted space. The raised island-style keyboard and number pad also span the crisp edges, recessed below the palm rest so the keys come up flush. It's not often that keyboard keys are striking, but these are: the squared edge-lit keys have glowing letters and glowing blue-white sides. They're also among the cleanest-feeling Samsung keys I've ever used.
A large click pad below has the right idea, but the wrong execution. The click pad is off-center because of the number pad, creating a narrow palm-rest area on the left. Also, the pad itself simply isn't as responsive as the equivalent Apple version. My fingers sometimes grazed the surface with little response, and two-finger gestures like scrolling got a little jumpy. It's closer than the Asus Zenbook's pad, but it's still subpar.
Controls such as volume and screen brightness are function-key-activated, meaning you'll have to fumble for the Fn button. I was expecting function-reversed keys on a high-end laptop like this. A large circular power button on the top right is all the Series 7 offers outside of the keyboard.
The big, bright 15.6-inch display offers two surprises: it's matte, a virtual rarity in laptops nowadays, and it has a larger-than-average 1,600x900 resolution. The former helps to reduce glare, obviously. For photos, videos, or games, I'd argue that matte seems to dull the picture down ever so slightly, but overall the end result here is that the Series 7 is better off for the matte finish. Viewing angles for movies, games, and documents deteriorated once the screen was tilted even a little bit: view this display head-on only.
Stereo speakers with grilles tucked away inside the center lid hinge provide ample volume and clarity for Web videos and even casual music. They're equivalent to the quality of those found on other slim laptops like the Vaio SE and MacBook Pro.
An HD 1,280x1,024 Webcam comes bundled with CyberLink YouCam software. The camera quality is good, better than the average, but not quite as excellent as recent HD Webcams I've seen on $1,000-plus laptops such as Dell's XPS series.
| Samsung Series 7 Chronos 700Z5A-S03 | Average for category [midsize] | |
|---|---|---|
| Video | VGA (with dongle), HDMI | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone combo jack | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, SD card reader, eSATA |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | slot-loading DVD burner | DVD burner |
There are several similar versions of the Samsung Series 7 Chronos laptop 700Z5A; some have only 6GB of RAM, others in retail configurations appear to drop Bluetooth and the extra VGA dongle. Comparing it with equivalent Sony Vaio SE and Dell XPS 15z configurations, the Series 7 offers a very similar set of specs. The 15z almost completely matches on price and specs, although the 15z has a 1080p display; the Vaio SE is more expensive in a $1,499 version, but also has a Blu-ray drive. It's a full $500 less than the closest entry-level MacBook Pro, but everyone expects Windows laptops to undercut Apple on price.
A 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-2675QM processor is similar to what's available on the Sony Vaio F236FM, fall 2011 MacBook Pro 15-inch, and Toshiba Satellite P775-S7320. Performance is, as to be expected, speedy; the Series 7 slightly outperformed the Toshiba Satellite while being a bit slower than the Sony Vaio, though on single-task benchmarks they were quite similar. The real advantage to a quad-core processor comes from advanced tasks that use the cores at once; most mainstream computing would do fine with a dual-core Core i5 processor without sacrificing too much speed, but the extra power here comes in handy for gaming, among other things.
AMD Radeon 6750M graphics offer a satisfying level of gaming power: Street Fighter IV ran at 53 frames per second at native resolution, while Metro 2033, a far more demanding game, ran at 11.3 frames per second at native resolution and high graphics settings. Dialing down graphics settings or playing at 1,366x768 pixels should help most games be very playable. I'd call this laptop gaming-friendly, but wouldn't call it a gamer's laptop.
Price: $999.95
Toshiba Portege R835-P70
The good: With a new Intel Core i5 CPU, sharp design, and nearly all-day battery life, the Toshiba Portege R835 is a smartly priced alternative to the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
The bad: Intel's integrated graphics are better than they used to be, but still not gamer-friendly, and features such as Bluetooth and mobile broadband are missing from some configs. There's no Blu-ray option (only DVD), and the speakers are somewhat anemic.
The bottom line: Excellent battery life, a light weight, and great pricing make the Toshiba Portege R835 hard to beat, even in the highly competitive 13-inch laptop category.
The bad: Intel's integrated graphics are better than they used to be, but still not gamer-friendly, and features such as Bluetooth and mobile broadband are missing from some configs. There's no Blu-ray option (only DVD), and the speakers are somewhat anemic.
The bottom line: Excellent battery life, a light weight, and great pricing make the Toshiba Portege R835 hard to beat, even in the highly competitive 13-inch laptop category.
Editors' note: The Toshiba Portege R835-P56X received an Editors' Choice Award when it was first reviewed in March 2011. The review below has been updated to include comparisons to more recent competitors and to highlight the different available models of the Portege. The laptop remains a CNET Editors' Choice.
When we first reviewed the Toshiba Portege R835 in March, it earned an enthusiastic Editors' Choice Award. But that was five months ago--an eternity in PC time. Now that second-generation Intel Sandy Bridge chips are in nearly every competing laptop, how does the Portege stack up?
The answer is this: as of August 2011, the Portege R835 is still one of the best overall values in the 13-inch laptop category. In fact, as the available configurations have evolved, you may find the current iteration of the Portege to be an even better deal than the laptop was when it was first introduced. Core i5 models have been seen online and in stores for $649 to $729 during various back-to-school sales. While some of the differences between the configurations are important and some aren't (more on that below), each version still delivers a solid magnesium alloy chassis and a thin and lightweight design. And the Portege beats out the more expensive MacBook Pro on battery life (topping 7 hours), while offering some step-up features (USB 3.0, eSATA ports, integrated DVD drive) not found in many competing models in this weight and size class.
Like nearly all PCs, the Toshiba Portege is available in multiple configurations. Our review sample, the R835-P56X, was outfitted as follows:
Some configurations include or exclude Bluetooth, Intel's Wireless Display technology, or built-in 4G wireless. Others drop to a slower Core i3 processor, or step up to a faster Core i7. Here's a quick cheat sheet on the different configurations as the currently exist:
Toshiba Portege R835-P50X: Core i3 (second-generation) CPU; built-in WiMax 4G [older Best Buy version; no longer widely available]
Toshiba Portege R835-ST3N01: same as P50X, but with Bluetooth instead of WiMax
Toshiba Portege R835-P56X: Core i5 (second-generation); no Bluetooth or WiMax [reviewed configuration]
Toshiba Portege R835-P55X: same as P56X, but without proprietary Toshiba utility software [sold at the Microsoft Store]
Toshiba Portege R835-P70: same as P56X, but with built-in WiMax 4G [sold at Best Buy]
Toshiba Portege R835-P75: same as P56X, but with 6GB of RAM [sold at OfficeMax and elsewhere]
This review refers to the P56X version, but all of the other Core i5 configurations listed above should exhibit identical performance. Depending on whether you want the WiMax option or not, you should be able to get the Portege R835 for $729 to $749. If Bluetooth is a must-have, we'd suggest purchasing a low-profile Bluetooth USB dongle (widely available for less than $20).
Toshiba also offers several Portege R830 models, which offer a docking connector and other CPU and hard-drive configurations (Core i7, SSD).
Much like 2010's R700 series, the R835 has a subtle dark blue tint to its brushed-metal magnesium alloy chassis. The body feels sturdy despite its light weight, but it's not nearly as thin as the Samsung Series 9 or the MacBook Air--both of which are much more expensive. Sadly, this new version keeps the one visual element we disliked last time: the overly chromed screen hinges, which just look cheap.
The keyboard, like most current consumer laptop keyboards, uses flat, widely spaced island-style keys, except these keys are slightly more rectangular than most, which may throw off touch typists. This does, however, leave more room for the oversize touch pad, which is close to what you'd see on a MacBook, except with a pair of large standalone left and right mouse buttons.
Toshiba's keyboards typically have a vertical row of dedicated Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End keys along the right side. This makes them easy to find, but at the same time pushes the Enter and Right Shift keys in from where you'd instinctively expect them to be. Media control buttons, volume, mute, and so on can also be hard to find, relegated to alternate F-key assignments and indicated in dark gray on black keys. Like the R705, the R835 lacks a backlit keyboard. Despite these flaws, the R835 still offers an excellent overall typing and touch-pad experience.
Returning for the second year is a handful of custom Toshiba software utilities. ReelTime displays recent documents and Web pages in thumbnail form along the bottom of the screen, and Bulletin Board combines photos and notes in a single work space. Both are slick, usable programs, but they're proprietary and require a time investment in learning them, which you may not want to bother with unless you're dedicated to using only Toshiba computers.
The 13.3-inch LED display has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels--roughly comparable with the MacBook's 1,280x800 pixels, but less than the 1,440x900-pixel 13-inch display found in the 13-inch MacBook Air. Though bright, the off-axis viewing angles on the R835 weren't great. Likewise, we've never been impressed with the onboard audio in the Portege laptops; the R835 speakers get the job done, but they're pretty lackluster.
With optical drives disappearing from more and more ultraportable laptops, we're happy to see that Toshiba kept a DVD burner in the Portege without bulking it up--but it would be nice to see a Blu-ray drive in this model at some point, at least as an option.
When we first reviewed the Toshiba Portege R835 in March, it earned an enthusiastic Editors' Choice Award. But that was five months ago--an eternity in PC time. Now that second-generation Intel Sandy Bridge chips are in nearly every competing laptop, how does the Portege stack up?
The answer is this: as of August 2011, the Portege R835 is still one of the best overall values in the 13-inch laptop category. In fact, as the available configurations have evolved, you may find the current iteration of the Portege to be an even better deal than the laptop was when it was first introduced. Core i5 models have been seen online and in stores for $649 to $729 during various back-to-school sales. While some of the differences between the configurations are important and some aren't (more on that below), each version still delivers a solid magnesium alloy chassis and a thin and lightweight design. And the Portege beats out the more expensive MacBook Pro on battery life (topping 7 hours), while offering some step-up features (USB 3.0, eSATA ports, integrated DVD drive) not found in many competing models in this weight and size class.
Like nearly all PCs, the Toshiba Portege is available in multiple configurations. Our review sample, the R835-P56X, was outfitted as follows:
| Price as reviewed / starting price | $799 / $749 |
| Processor | 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M |
| Memory | 4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 640GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel HM65 |
| Graphics | Intel HD 3000 |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 12.4x8.9 inches |
| Height | 0.7 inch - 1.1 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 13.3 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 3.2 pounds/3.9 pounds |
| Category | 13-inch |
Toshiba Portege R835-P50X: Core i3 (second-generation) CPU; built-in WiMax 4G [older Best Buy version; no longer widely available]
Toshiba Portege R835-ST3N01: same as P50X, but with Bluetooth instead of WiMax
Toshiba Portege R835-P56X: Core i5 (second-generation); no Bluetooth or WiMax [reviewed configuration]
Toshiba Portege R835-P55X: same as P56X, but without proprietary Toshiba utility software [sold at the Microsoft Store]
Toshiba Portege R835-P70: same as P56X, but with built-in WiMax 4G [sold at Best Buy]
Toshiba Portege R835-P75: same as P56X, but with 6GB of RAM [sold at OfficeMax and elsewhere]
This review refers to the P56X version, but all of the other Core i5 configurations listed above should exhibit identical performance. Depending on whether you want the WiMax option or not, you should be able to get the Portege R835 for $729 to $749. If Bluetooth is a must-have, we'd suggest purchasing a low-profile Bluetooth USB dongle (widely available for less than $20).
Toshiba also offers several Portege R830 models, which offer a docking connector and other CPU and hard-drive configurations (Core i7, SSD).
Much like 2010's R700 series, the R835 has a subtle dark blue tint to its brushed-metal magnesium alloy chassis. The body feels sturdy despite its light weight, but it's not nearly as thin as the Samsung Series 9 or the MacBook Air--both of which are much more expensive. Sadly, this new version keeps the one visual element we disliked last time: the overly chromed screen hinges, which just look cheap.
The keyboard, like most current consumer laptop keyboards, uses flat, widely spaced island-style keys, except these keys are slightly more rectangular than most, which may throw off touch typists. This does, however, leave more room for the oversize touch pad, which is close to what you'd see on a MacBook, except with a pair of large standalone left and right mouse buttons.
Toshiba's keyboards typically have a vertical row of dedicated Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End keys along the right side. This makes them easy to find, but at the same time pushes the Enter and Right Shift keys in from where you'd instinctively expect them to be. Media control buttons, volume, mute, and so on can also be hard to find, relegated to alternate F-key assignments and indicated in dark gray on black keys. Like the R705, the R835 lacks a backlit keyboard. Despite these flaws, the R835 still offers an excellent overall typing and touch-pad experience.
Returning for the second year is a handful of custom Toshiba software utilities. ReelTime displays recent documents and Web pages in thumbnail form along the bottom of the screen, and Bulletin Board combines photos and notes in a single work space. Both are slick, usable programs, but they're proprietary and require a time investment in learning them, which you may not want to bother with unless you're dedicated to using only Toshiba computers.
The 13.3-inch LED display has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels--roughly comparable with the MacBook's 1,280x800 pixels, but less than the 1,440x900-pixel 13-inch display found in the 13-inch MacBook Air. Though bright, the off-axis viewing angles on the R835 weren't great. Likewise, we've never been impressed with the onboard audio in the Portege laptops; the R835 speakers get the job done, but they're pretty lackluster.
With optical drives disappearing from more and more ultraportable laptops, we're happy to see that Toshiba kept a DVD burner in the Portege without bulking it up--but it would be nice to see a Blu-ray drive in this model at some point, at least as an option.
Starting at: $751.99
HP Pavilion dm1z
The good: A solid upgrade to one of our favorite laptops, the new HP Pavilion dm1z adds Beats Audio, a better touch pad, and an updated AMD processor.
The bad: Benchmark scores and battery life are about the same as those of the previous dm1z, and a promised Intel Core i3 version is still MIA.
The bottom line: There have been plenty of 11-inch AMD-powered ultraportables this year, but HP's Pavilion dm1z was the first, and this updated version puts it back in the lead in this crowded category.
The bad: Benchmark scores and battery life are about the same as those of the previous dm1z, and a promised Intel Core i3 version is still MIA.
The bottom line: There have been plenty of 11-inch AMD-powered ultraportables this year, but HP's Pavilion dm1z was the first, and this updated version puts it back in the lead in this crowded category.
The biggest story in laptops this year has got to be the rise of the inexpensive 11-inch ultraportable. Largely replacing 10-inch Netbooks, these systems are slightly larger, slightly more expensive, and significantly more powerful, thanks to the latest Intel Core i3 and AMD E-series processors.
The first one we saw in 2011 was the HP Pavilion dm1z, which used AMD's new E-350 CPU. At the time, we said: "The first laptop to offer AMD's power-efficient Fusion platform delivers on much of its promise, combining great battery life, decent performance, and basic graphics for less than $500." Since then, many other laptops have hit the same winning price-component combo, but the HP dm1z remained near the top of our list because of its excellent overall design.
An updated version has just landed, and it's also called the HP Pavilion dm1z. The main differences are a moderately updated design and a step up to AMD's brand-new E-450 processor, along with the same Beats Audio technology found in many larger Hewlett-Packard laptops.
The processor bump didn't amount to much, as the new Pavilion dm1z performed about the same as the AMD E-350 laptops we've tested, but the design tweaks, while subtle, make for a slicker, more upscale-looking system. Keeping the price fairly steady at $444 (including a $100 "discount" from HP), there's no reason not to recommend the new Pavilion dm1z as strongly as we did the original version. HP says an Intel Core i3 version will also be available later in the year, but that may cost more, around $600.
To be fair, no one is going to mistake the HP Pavilion dm1z, even with its new design tweaks, for an 11-inch MacBook Air or Samsung Series 9. This is still a chunky little ultraportable, and certainly heavy enough that you won't forget that it's in your shoulder bag. That said, putting it side by side with the original version, the improvements are easy to see.
The dm1z has gone from a glossy, fingerprint-prone lid to a matte one, in an attractive dark gray. Inside, the keyboard and keyboard tray are now all matte black, instead of black keys against a light-gray plastic interior. The battery has been shifted subtly, so it doesn't stick up between the screen hinges and protrude from the rear edge, making for a much cleaner silhouette. The new hinge design also allows the Ethernet jack to fit properly, instead of having to hide behind an awkward plastic flap, as it did on the original dm1z.
The island-style keyboard is virtually identical on this updated dm1z, and makes good use of the available space, stretching almost from one end of the keyboard tray to the other. The keys feel solid, with no flex under the fingers, although they do clack a little loudly. The always-important Shift, Enter, and Tab keys are thankfully full-size, but the Page Up and Page Down keys (which we tend to use a lot on small screens) are alt-mapped to the up and down arrow keys.
The touch pad is significantly different, moving away from the click-pad-style one on the original dm1z. That design, copied from HP's high-end Envy laptops (and, let's be honest, Apple's MacBook), incorporated the left and right mouse buttons right into the touch pad. But on the smaller pad necessitated by the 11-inch body, it ended up being awkward and at times unresponsive.
The new design brings back separate left and right mouse buttons, and combines them with a touch pad stamped right into the wrist rest with a subtle textured pattern. The combined pad and buttons cover the same surface area as the old click pad did, but the new version feels more responsive and is more comfortable to use. One additional change--the new touch pad is shifted slightly to the left so that it is perfectly centered under the spacebar, whereas the original version had the pad centered on the laptop body, but out of sync with the spacebar. So far, in anecdotal use, we don't strongly prefer one setup over the other.
The 11.6-inch display is unchanged, with the same 1,366x768-pixel native resolution as nearly every other 11-inch laptop (and a good number of the 13-, 14-, and 15-inch ones, as well). It's fine for Web surfing and video playback, although full HD 1080p video obviously won't display at its full resolution. Our main complaint about the screen is its bezel, which is made of overly glossy black plastic and contrasts harshly with the rest of the system's matte look, and catches a lot of glare.
The audio system, however, has gotten a big upgrade, and joins the list of HP laptops that use Beats Audio technology. In a small laptop such as this, there's only so much you can do, as small speakers simply don't push that much air. But the Beats Audio software provides EQ and other sound settings that can control volume levels for different output types and add noise cancellation to audio recordings.
Compared side by side with a non-Beats Pavilion dm1z, this new version sounded louder and fuller at lower volume levels, although that seems to be a function of EQ tweaks more than any physical difference in the speakers. If an 11-inch ultraportable is your main music source, well, you might want to rethink your audio setup, but as a no-added-cost upgrade, the Beats Audio software gives the new dm1z an upscale edge over the competition.
The new version of the dm1z adds a mic jack, missing from the original, but no USB 3.0 ports, which are becoming increasingly common in all price ranges. There are a handful of customization options; knocking down the processor to a slower AMD E-300 discounts the system by $25, but we'd avoid that particular tradeoff. Part of the reason we like this laptop is its fast 7,200rpm hard drive, and our 320GB drive can be upgraded to a 500GB one for $30 or an even faster 160GB solid-state drive for $280 (the latter option puts us in a whole different price class, however).
While the 1.65GHz AMD E-450 CPU is a new member of AMD's Fusion platform, the new Pavilion dm1z wasn't much different in terms of performance from either the original Pavilion dm1z or other 11-inch laptops with the older E-350 CPU. If HP were charging more for it, we'd be disappointed, but as it's currently almost exactly the same price as the $450 model we saw earlier in the year, it's not a deal breaker.
In hands-on use, we found the dm1z, like other laptops in its class, is perfectly fine for Web surfing, sending e-mail, watching HD video, and even light gaming. If we had the same level of performance in a 15-inch laptop, it might feel sluggish, but in an 11-inch body, it's much better than the Intel Atom Netbooks that were all the rage a year or so ago. Note, however, that the much more expensive MacBook Air and the Samsung Series 3, both with Intel Core i-series chips, were much faster in our tests.
The first one we saw in 2011 was the HP Pavilion dm1z, which used AMD's new E-350 CPU. At the time, we said: "The first laptop to offer AMD's power-efficient Fusion platform delivers on much of its promise, combining great battery life, decent performance, and basic graphics for less than $500." Since then, many other laptops have hit the same winning price-component combo, but the HP dm1z remained near the top of our list because of its excellent overall design.
An updated version has just landed, and it's also called the HP Pavilion dm1z. The main differences are a moderately updated design and a step up to AMD's brand-new E-450 processor, along with the same Beats Audio technology found in many larger Hewlett-Packard laptops.
The processor bump didn't amount to much, as the new Pavilion dm1z performed about the same as the AMD E-350 laptops we've tested, but the design tweaks, while subtle, make for a slicker, more upscale-looking system. Keeping the price fairly steady at $444 (including a $100 "discount" from HP), there's no reason not to recommend the new Pavilion dm1z as strongly as we did the original version. HP says an Intel Core i3 version will also be available later in the year, but that may cost more, around $600.
| Price as reviewed | $444 |
| Processor | 1.65GHz AMD E-450 |
| Memory | 4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 320GB 7,200rpm |
| Chipset | AMD 1510h |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon HD 6320 |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 11.5x8.5 inches |
| Height | 0.8 inch - 1.3 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 11.6 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 3.4 pounds / 4.2 pounds |
| Category | Ultraportable |
The dm1z has gone from a glossy, fingerprint-prone lid to a matte one, in an attractive dark gray. Inside, the keyboard and keyboard tray are now all matte black, instead of black keys against a light-gray plastic interior. The battery has been shifted subtly, so it doesn't stick up between the screen hinges and protrude from the rear edge, making for a much cleaner silhouette. The new hinge design also allows the Ethernet jack to fit properly, instead of having to hide behind an awkward plastic flap, as it did on the original dm1z.
The island-style keyboard is virtually identical on this updated dm1z, and makes good use of the available space, stretching almost from one end of the keyboard tray to the other. The keys feel solid, with no flex under the fingers, although they do clack a little loudly. The always-important Shift, Enter, and Tab keys are thankfully full-size, but the Page Up and Page Down keys (which we tend to use a lot on small screens) are alt-mapped to the up and down arrow keys.
The touch pad is significantly different, moving away from the click-pad-style one on the original dm1z. That design, copied from HP's high-end Envy laptops (and, let's be honest, Apple's MacBook), incorporated the left and right mouse buttons right into the touch pad. But on the smaller pad necessitated by the 11-inch body, it ended up being awkward and at times unresponsive.
The new design brings back separate left and right mouse buttons, and combines them with a touch pad stamped right into the wrist rest with a subtle textured pattern. The combined pad and buttons cover the same surface area as the old click pad did, but the new version feels more responsive and is more comfortable to use. One additional change--the new touch pad is shifted slightly to the left so that it is perfectly centered under the spacebar, whereas the original version had the pad centered on the laptop body, but out of sync with the spacebar. So far, in anecdotal use, we don't strongly prefer one setup over the other.
The 11.6-inch display is unchanged, with the same 1,366x768-pixel native resolution as nearly every other 11-inch laptop (and a good number of the 13-, 14-, and 15-inch ones, as well). It's fine for Web surfing and video playback, although full HD 1080p video obviously won't display at its full resolution. Our main complaint about the screen is its bezel, which is made of overly glossy black plastic and contrasts harshly with the rest of the system's matte look, and catches a lot of glare.
The audio system, however, has gotten a big upgrade, and joins the list of HP laptops that use Beats Audio technology. In a small laptop such as this, there's only so much you can do, as small speakers simply don't push that much air. But the Beats Audio software provides EQ and other sound settings that can control volume levels for different output types and add noise cancellation to audio recordings.
Compared side by side with a non-Beats Pavilion dm1z, this new version sounded louder and fuller at lower volume levels, although that seems to be a function of EQ tweaks more than any physical difference in the speakers. If an 11-inch ultraportable is your main music source, well, you might want to rethink your audio setup, but as a no-added-cost upgrade, the Beats Audio software gives the new dm1z an upscale edge over the competition.
| HP Pavilion dm1z (fall 2011) | Average for category [ultraportable] | |
|---|---|---|
| Video | VGA plus HDMI | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 3 USB 2.0, SD Card reader | 2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, SD card reader |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | None | None |
While the 1.65GHz AMD E-450 CPU is a new member of AMD's Fusion platform, the new Pavilion dm1z wasn't much different in terms of performance from either the original Pavilion dm1z or other 11-inch laptops with the older E-350 CPU. If HP were charging more for it, we'd be disappointed, but as it's currently almost exactly the same price as the $450 model we saw earlier in the year, it's not a deal breaker.
In hands-on use, we found the dm1z, like other laptops in its class, is perfectly fine for Web surfing, sending e-mail, watching HD video, and even light gaming. If we had the same level of performance in a 15-inch laptop, it might feel sluggish, but in an 11-inch body, it's much better than the Intel Atom Netbooks that were all the rage a year or so ago. Note, however, that the much more expensive MacBook Air and the Samsung Series 3, both with Intel Core i-series chips, were much faster in our tests.
Starting at: $429.99
