Ultraportable Laptops Reviews

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Ultraportable Laptops Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Ultraportable Laptops Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Notebook Review.com	Notebook reviews Contributors to NotebookReview.com As of Mar. 2008		This website features enthusiast reviews that are more comprehensive than most expert reviews and fit the website’s well-organized and detailed format. Benchmark performance is shown in a comparison chart with other ultraportable laptops. Recent reviews include relevant comparisons. About a dozen laptops are reviewed every month. The only flaw with NotebookReview.com as a review source is the absence of ratings or another method of identifying the best laptops, although some models are selected as Editor's Choices. Links to reviews at other sites are also provided.
2. Notebook Check.net	Laptop Reviews, News Editors of NotebookCheck.net As of Mar. 2008		This German website offers incredibly comprehensive reviews of many notebooks, including ultraportable laptops. Each illustrated review includes complete specifications, detailed test results with comparisons to similar laptop computers, a lengthy list of similar notebooks and a consistent format. Each laptop is rated in a dozen subcategories then assigned a weighted average rating in its target-market category (office, multimedia, sub-notebook, desktop replacement). One weakness here is readability; translations to English are sometimes indecipherable. In addition, some of the ultraportable laptops are not available in the United States. Otherwise, the quality and quantity of the reviews here are unsurpassed.

Ultraportable Laptops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Ultraportable Laptops Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Top 10 Ultraportable Laptops Carla Thornton Dec. 3, 2007		This chart ranks ten previously reviewed ultraportable laptops, with links to individual reviews and test reports. The short reviews are fluffy without much substance, but the testing process is admirable and provides much basis for comparison. A major limitation of these reviews is that configuration options are rarely discussed (as if the reviewed product is a fixed buying choice), and potential performance variations are not addressed.
4. Computer Shopper	Laptop Reviews Editors of Computer Shopper As of Mar. 2008		Computer Shopper reviews about five laptops in each issue, and some tested models can be considered ultraportable laptops. Reviews are balanced and backed by benchmark testing. Each product is rated, and although all ratings are high, they vary enough to provide distinctions. The magazine uses many different reviewers, which somewhat dilutes the ability to compare scores. The best products are identified in monthly charts. Laptops are divided into six somewhat arbitrary categories, including Thin-and-Light Laptops (4 to 7 pounds) and Ultraportable Laptops (less Than 4 pounds).
5. Laptop Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Laptop Reviews Editors of Laptop magazine As of Mar. 2008		Laptop magazine reviews as many laptops as anyone, and even though the magazine uses multiple reviewers, most have experience reviewing lots of models, which provides a strong frame of reference. Reviews are occasionally comparative, and all products are rated. Testing is frequently referenced, but test data isn't published online. Since this magazine focuses on business users, many of the tested and recommended notebooks are ultraportable or tablet laptops.
6. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Service and Reliability: Notebooks Editors of PC Magazine Sept. 13, 2007		PC Magazine has conducted an annual subscriber survey of tech support and reliability for the past 20 years. Thousands of readers respond, with patterns and trends emerging over years of surveys. In the 2007 survey, Lenovo earns the best ratings in every category. Fujitsu fares very well in reliability, but the sample is small. HP and Compaq ratings are combined in most categories and rank below average in most regards. Acer oddly has a poor reliability rating, but the lowest percentage of units needing repair (Dell has the highest percentage).
7. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Laptops & Notebooks Cisco Cheng As of Mar. 2008		PC Magazine regularly reviews new ultraportable laptops and tablet computers. Benchmark test results reveal how each computer performs in common applications. Each laptop is assigned an editor's rating, and top performers receive an Editor's Choice award. The reviews aren't overly long, but they’re competently done and credible. Readers can post their own assessments, but relatively few take advantage of the opportunity.
8. CNet.com	Top Ultraportable Laptops Michelle Thatcher, Dan Ackerman As of Mar. 2008		CNet.com is a prolific laptop reviewer. The short reviews are comparative, and testing is satisfactory, but it’s neither as comprehensive nor as relevant as testing by NotebookCheck.net or NotebookReview.com. Reviews of ultraportable laptops and tablet PCs seem overly focused on appearance and features, but CNet.com does adequately cover the more important buying considerations. CNet.com names five ultraportable laptops as top choices and selects one as an Editor’s Choice. However, CNet.com readers have a much lower opinion of that model, the Lenovo ThinkPad X300.
9. TabletPCReview.com	Tablet PC Reviews Tiffany Boggs As of Mar. 2008		TabletPCReview.com is a sister site of NotebookReview.com, which is profiled above. Reviews are very similar, but a little less substantive, and there are few tablet PCs compared with laptops in general. This is the best specialty source specifically for information on tablet PCs, but the absence of ratings or contextual buying advice makes it hard for users to identify the best tablet PC, or the best within a price range. A chart that shows the most popular tablet PCs may interest some prospective buyers.

Ultraportable Laptops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Ultraportable Laptops Ratings Comments on Reviews

10. Trusted Reviews	Notebooks: Latest Reviews Andy Vandervell As of Mar. 2008		UK website TrustedReviews.com regularly covers new laptops, including some ultraportable and tablet laptops. Reviews are helpfully illustrated with photos, and benchmark results are published. All notebook computers have high ratings, but the reviews are balanced. Because this site is based in the U.K, some of the tested ultraportable laptops aren't available in the United States.
11. ReviewPub.net	Laptop Reviews Anonymous As of Mar. 2008		Review Pub’s reviews are comprehensive, balanced and comparative -- but we don't know who's writing them. Testing of heat, noise and battery life are exceptional, and explanations are easy to understand. Illustrations are good. The lack of ratings, however, makes identifying the best ultraportable laptops a challenge. Since reviewing a slew of laptops in July 2007, Review Pub has only reviewed two additional models. In spite of great individual reviews, these issues prevent Review Pub from being a top review source.
12. HotHardware.com	Notebooks Michael Lin As of Mar. 2008		HotHardware’s reviews are outstanding. Real-world and lab testing cover everything a prospective buyer might want to know. However, the reviews are inconsistent; some products earn Editor’s Choice awards or recommendations, but others are unrated. The only current ultraportable reviewed is the Asus U6S. Comparisons are only with larger laptops rather than other ultraportable notebooks.
13. PC World (Australia) >> Details/Subscribe	Reviews: Hardware: Notebooks Jesse Sutton As of Mar. 2008		PC World (Australia) is an extremely prolific reviewer of laptops, including some ultraportable models, but not all those covered are sold to the U.S. market. Some reviews are thorough, and complete performance test results are published, but much of that information does not appear on the magazine’s website. Unfortunately, laptops aren't compared, and all models get good scores, so the reviews aren't critical enough to get a clear idea of which models might be better overall.
14. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Tech support Subscribers of Consumer Reports June 2007		Consumer Reports conducts an annual product reliability survey. Last year, the magazine surveyed satisfaction with tech support from computer manufacturers and third parties. As you might expect, satisfaction with all computer manufacturers is poor. However, brand differences are significant. Beyond that, Consumer Reports provides little information, and separating tech support from repairs is confusing. A manufacturer should be able to solve a consumer problem through whichever method is necessary. Consumer Reports says laptops need more repairs than any other products it tracks.
15. Which.co.uk >> Details/Subscribe	Laptops Editors of Which.co.uk Jan. 8, 2008		Like Consumer Reports and PC Magazine, British consumer magazine Which? conducts an annual support, reliability and satisfaction survey. The Which? survey has the smallest number of responses, however.
16. TabletPc2.com	TabletPc2.com Reviews Linda A. Epstein As of Mar. 2008		TabletPc2.com has thorough reviews of tablet PCs and related products. Photos, including outdoor shots, are terrific. Reviews are very informative, but not comparative. Products aren’t rated, but "Windows Experience" scores provide a simple method of performance comparison. Lists of pros and cons are satisfactorily balanced. The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 ultraportable laptop is the current Editor’s Choice, but it was replaced by the X61 last summer. The biggest weaknesses here are a small number of reviews and the absence of a current favorite recommendation.
17. Rugged PC Review.com	Full Reviews Conrad H. Blickenstorfer As of Mar. 2008		RuggedPCReview.com was started in late 2005 to provide news and reviews about "rugged" mobile computer technology. The website reviews laptops, tablets, slates and handheld computers. Reviews are unique. They do not include formal performance testing, relying instead on manufacturer testing of ruggedness. Other aspects are thoroughly addressed, including display quality in outdoor lighting conditions. Products aren’t rated or ranked, however.
18. XBitLabs.com	Mobile reviews Alexander Britvin and Ilya Gavrichenkov As of Mar. 2008		Enthusiast website XBitLabs.com regularly reviews new laptops, including ultraportable laptops and tablet PCs. The lengthy reviews cover all a reader would want to know -- except which product to buy. The writers show enthusiasm for all reviewed laptops. That reduces X-bit Labs to being an excellent secondary review site. We were unable to identify any of the reviewed laptops as better than the rest.
19. LaptopLogic.com	Latest Laptop Reviews Editors of LaptopLogic.com As of Mar. 2008		LaptopLogic.com reviews about one laptop per month, including ultraportables. Reviews are detailed, balanced and supported by formal testing. The website has recently improved its credibility with some unfavorable reviews and variation in ratings. The remaining weakness is the limited number of reviews. As the website now uses several reviewers, each has a narrow frame of reference.

Ultraportable Laptops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Ultraportable Laptops Ratings Comments on Reviews

20. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Laptop Computers Editors of Consumer Reports Feb. 2008		Consumer Reports tests and ranks just three ultraportable laptops: the Dell XPS M1330, Sony VAIO VGN-SZ640 and a discontinued Apple MacBook. Each computer is reviewed with roughly the same core configuration. Testing is helpful, but description is limited to a few sentences. As performance is not a major factor (if any) in the overall score, Consumer Reports is most useful for consumers who are primarily interested in someone else’s opinion of ergonomics and features.
21. The Wall Street Journal >> Details/Subscribe	These Two Laptops Are Small and Sleek, but Come with Flaws Walter S. Mossberg July 12, 2007		The Wall Street Journal technology columnist Walt Mossberg occasionally reviews laptops. This older column covers the Dell XPSTM M1330 and Toshiba Portege R500. These two ultraportable laptops are directly compared, and each receives very balanced treatment. A couple of minor errors don't detract from Mossberg's conclusions, but the review needs a broader context. Mossberg also mentions a new Lenovo ultraportable laptop.
22. Pocket-Lint.co.uk	Laptop Reviews Stephen Patrick, Stuart Miles As of Mar. 2008		Pocket-lint.co.uk, a gadget news and reviews site, regularly covers notebooks, some of which aren't available in the United States. The short reviews are balanced, but almost all laptops get similar high ratings, and there's no evidence of performance testing. The Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook P7230 (not sold in the U.S.) is rated 8/10, yet Stephen Patrick admits, "We found it struggle when we had more than one window open at any one time."
23. HardwareZone.com	Notebook Reviews Editors of HardwareZone.com As of Mar. 2008		Asian and Australian website HardwareZone.com sporadically reviews laptops, including an occasional ultraportable laptop. The reviews are balanced and comparative, but Hardware Zone doesn't review enough notebook computers to form a strong frame of reference. The Dell XPS M1330 is the only current ultraportable laptop that is reviewed.
24. Notebook Forums.com	Notebook reviews Contributors to NotebookForums.com As of Mar. 2008		This forum website has fewer and considerably less detailed reviews than NotebookReview.com, but some are very good. Many of the members are college students. Most of the reviews are augmented by additional comments, and some reviews are accompanied by detailed photos. When possible, the most capable reviewers conduct benchmark tests and offer valid comparisons. Still, without laptop ratings or rankings, or even multiple reviews by one person, prospective buyers will only find NotebookForums.com useful as a backup source once they've already identified ultraportable laptop computers of specific interest.
25. Computer Shopper	22nd Annual Shoppers' Choice Awards Computer Shopper readers 2007		Computer Shopper conducts an annual survey of readers to determine the best products of the year. The results amount to the same thing as the average ratings of user reviews elsewhere, but without the useful explanatory commentary. Computer Shopper divides laptops into four categories, including Ultraportable, although manufacturers have considerably changed these models since they were introduced. However, to the extent that the selections are based on older purchases, this can be a good guide to longer-term satisfaction.
26. Laptop Broker.com	Expert Product Reviews Editors of Laptop Broker.com As of Mar. 2008		Laptop Broker sells laptops and calls its reviews a public service. That’s a stretch, as these reviews will not discourage many sales. However, they are as balanced as many reviews you’ll find elsewhere. Reviews are similar to CNet.com’s, but without benchmark comparisons. Lists of pros and cons are usually very good. The reviewers are described as technicians, but more information is needed before we can give these reviews much credibility.
27. laptopadvisor. blogspot.com	Notebook and laptop reviews Anonymous As of Mar. 2008		This odd foreign blog site is difficult to decipher. Whoever operates this website does not offer any explanation. We don’t know who writes the reviews or how the site is funded. Recent reviews are short and in the same format. They are accompanied by overall and value ratings. While acknowledging that some of these reviews are better than some we’ve ranked higher, and the quantity of reviews is impressive, we need more information to have confidence in this site’s credibility.
28. BiosMagazine.co.uk	Laptop reviews Christian Harris As of Mar. 2008		UK small-business technology website BIOS periodically reviews ultraportable laptop computers. Testing is limited, and some reviews are unbalanced. Each laptop receives a single rating, and some are selected as Editor’s Choices, but editors don't usually compare notebooks to competing models.
29. About.com	Top 5 Ultraportable Notebooks Mark Kyrnin Mar. 10, 2008		This article summarizes Mark Kyrnin’s reviews of five ultraportable laptops and provides links to the full reviews. The full reviews evaluate specifications and features, rather than performance or experience from hands-on-testing. They’re short and ignore huge buying considerations such as brand reliability, ergonomics, heat, noise, display quality and real-world battery life. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)
30. Consumer Guide.com	Laptops Reviews and Prices Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Mar. 2008		Consumer Guide reviews a couple of Sony ultraportable laptop computers. However, reviews are short and reflect no hands-on testing. The lack of testing and comparisons gives us little confidence in Consumer Guide's picks.
31. Newegg.com	Laptops/Notebooks Contributors to Newegg.com As of Mar. 2008		Newegg.com sells a vast selection of laptops from many brands. The company's typical customers are sophisticated and opinionated computer users, which often makes Newegg.com a good site for consumer reviews. However, ultraportable laptops appear to be vastly less popular with Newegg customers than general purpose or larger laptops. We found no models with more than six reviews. The samplings are too small to be representative of consumers in general.

Ultraportable Laptops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Ultraportable Laptops Ratings Comments on Reviews

32. Amazon.com	Notebooks Contributors to Amazon.com As of Mar. 2008		Frequently repeated observations in user reviews can reveal important information that isn't covered in professional reviews about owning a laptop. However, Amazon.com distributes a modest selection of brands, and we found an insignificant number of user reviews.