Toshiba Satellite A215-S6804
For the best overall performance and storage available in a laptop computer system, the clear choice is the Toshiba Satellite A215-S6804. This is a fairly new release from Toshiba and packs in an AMD Athlon 64 X2 TL-60 dual core mobile processor. This has a bit of a drawback of a larger power draw that gives the Satellite a slightly lower battery life, but most people can handle this. The truly amazing part about the system though is the inclusion of an extremely large 250GB hard drive that provides plenty of space for programs or digital media. Definitely a strong value in the budget market.
SonyVAIOVGN-NR240E/W
If you care how your notebook looks and functions, then the Sony VAIO VGN-NR240E/W might be the system to consider. Rather than an AMD processor, the NR240E/W uses the Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2330 mobile processor that does give it respectable performance. It is hampered a bit by some slower PC2-4200 DDR2 memory rather than the more common PC2-5300 DDR2 used in budget systems. On the upside, Sony did include a 200GB hard drive that is 25% larger than the average notebook drive but still a bit smaller than the Toshiba. Of course, the Sony system has a much cleaner design that is more attractive than many budget notebook systems.
Acer Aspire AS5520-5891
Acer has two big advantages over many other laptops on this list. The first is that the system is priced a bit lower than many other budget notebooks. This makes it more affordable yet it doesn't sacrifice much in terms of performance or features. For example, most budget notebooks use 2GB of DDR2 memory. Acer provides the Aspire AS5500-5891 with 3GB of memory that lets it handle memory intensive programs and multitasking better than other budget laptops. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57 is fairly standard for the market segment as is the 160GB hard drive. On the downside, Acer does not provide much in terms of software with the system that probably helps to reduce the costs.
Lenovo 3000Y410
Most budget notebooks tend to use the 15.4-inch wide screen LCD display. This provides a nice display to work with, but it adds to the size of the system. The Lenovo 3000 Y410 instead uses a slightly smaller 14.1-inch wide display that helps reduce the size and weight. This makes it very portable for a notebook system without sacrificing on performance. It comes with a fairly standard lineup of specs such as a Pentium Dual-Core T2330, 2GB of DDR2, 160GB hard drive and dual layer DVD burner. It does feature a unique scroll media controller that works well both with media applications and general applications. Unfortunately, Lenovo has put a fair amount of trialware on the system that can be annoying to remove.
HP Pavilion dv6707us
The HP Pavilion dv6707us is pretty much configured as one would expect in a budget notebook system. It is based around the AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57 processor, 2GB DDR2 memory, 160GB hard drive and dual layer DVD burner. About the only distinguishing hardware feature is that HP puts in LightScribe burners in their systems so that they can burn labels directly to compatible media. HP is also pretty good about suppling their systems with just about every application you might need. Of course, they tend to put too much software on including a large amount of trialware. Since HP machines are sold at many retailers as well, it is often easy to find the system on sale below many competing budget laptop prices.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Knowledge of Computing...
Lookeen finds everything fast in Outlook — no matter the account, folder, PST file or type (from email to meeting to attachment).
Pros
Lookeen finds emails, contacts, appointments and everything else fast in Outlook
You can easily reach related emails from Lookeen search results
Lookeen supports advanced search operators (but does not help you much using them)
Cons
Lookeen's "back" button goes back to the last search string, not the last thing you've seen
Search strings could be interpreted more loosely, related message search more intelligent
Lookeen does not index new email and changes you make in real time
zSB(3,3)
Description
Lookeen finds messages, contacts, tasks, meetings, appointments and notes in Outlook.
Attached files of many a type (including Office documents and PDF files) are found by Lookeen, too.
In addition to keyword search, Lookeen returns conversations (based on contacts) and related messages (looking at subjects).
You can configure PST files, folders and attachment file types to search. Lookeen supports Exchange, POP, IMAP and Hotmail.
Lookeen updates its database on a schedule (anything from every few seconds to every few days), and can pause during work.
From Lookeen search results, you can open, move, delete or categorize emails easily.
A bunch of messages can be summarized, say for forwarding.
Operators let you restrict Lookeen searches to certain fields, or expand them with wild-card characters, for example.
Lookeen supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Outlook 2003/7.
Guide Review - Lookeen 1.0 - Outlook Search Add-On
If it's there, Lookeen will find it. "It" can be anything from an email message to a contact, task, attachment or appointment. "There" can be in any Outlook PST file and any account type — from Exchange to POP, IMAP or Hotmail.
Lookeen not only finds, of course, it also finds fast; faster, it seems, than Outlook's built-in index search. With the results found and displayed in a nice separate window, Lookeen can perform a number of stunts, too: show only a certain type (only emails, say, or just meetings), only time range, find related messages by subject or contact, and operate on emails. Swiftly can you move, copy, delete or, of course, open emails, for example.
If a simple keyword search did not get you the sought result, Lookeen lets you employ search operators that find phrases, for example, or look only in the "Subject:". Lookeen lacks an interface that would construct such queries for you, though, and sometimes you wish the simple search were more forgiving — and include inflections or alternate spellings.
Behind Lookeen's fast results is an index of all data. When you first install Lookeen, that collection has to be built from the ground up, which can take a while. Subsequently, new data is added quickly on a schedule. You can choose an interval from a few seconds to days. Listening to what Outlook does and having new emails or changes you make in Lookeen instantly would be even better, of course.
Pros
Lookeen finds emails, contacts, appointments and everything else fast in Outlook
You can easily reach related emails from Lookeen search results
Lookeen supports advanced search operators (but does not help you much using them)
Cons
Lookeen's "back" button goes back to the last search string, not the last thing you've seen
Search strings could be interpreted more loosely, related message search more intelligent
Lookeen does not index new email and changes you make in real time
zSB(3,3)
Description
Lookeen finds messages, contacts, tasks, meetings, appointments and notes in Outlook.
Attached files of many a type (including Office documents and PDF files) are found by Lookeen, too.
In addition to keyword search, Lookeen returns conversations (based on contacts) and related messages (looking at subjects).
You can configure PST files, folders and attachment file types to search. Lookeen supports Exchange, POP, IMAP and Hotmail.
Lookeen updates its database on a schedule (anything from every few seconds to every few days), and can pause during work.
From Lookeen search results, you can open, move, delete or categorize emails easily.
A bunch of messages can be summarized, say for forwarding.
Operators let you restrict Lookeen searches to certain fields, or expand them with wild-card characters, for example.
Lookeen supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Outlook 2003/7.
Guide Review - Lookeen 1.0 - Outlook Search Add-On
If it's there, Lookeen will find it. "It" can be anything from an email message to a contact, task, attachment or appointment. "There" can be in any Outlook PST file and any account type — from Exchange to POP, IMAP or Hotmail.
Lookeen not only finds, of course, it also finds fast; faster, it seems, than Outlook's built-in index search. With the results found and displayed in a nice separate window, Lookeen can perform a number of stunts, too: show only a certain type (only emails, say, or just meetings), only time range, find related messages by subject or contact, and operate on emails. Swiftly can you move, copy, delete or, of course, open emails, for example.
If a simple keyword search did not get you the sought result, Lookeen lets you employ search operators that find phrases, for example, or look only in the "Subject:". Lookeen lacks an interface that would construct such queries for you, though, and sometimes you wish the simple search were more forgiving — and include inflections or alternate spellings.
Behind Lookeen's fast results is an index of all data. When you first install Lookeen, that collection has to be built from the ground up, which can take a while. Subsequently, new data is added quickly on a schedule. You can choose an interval from a few seconds to days. Listening to what Outlook does and having new emails or changes you make in Lookeen instantly would be even better, of course.
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