NetbookTech

Thanks to a video interview with a Dell rep over at Shufflegazine, we now know Dell plans on releasing updated versions of the Alienware M11x netbook. The updated systems will feature Core i3, i5, and i7 processor options (which presumably will be the new updated CULV processors announced today by Intel) and will continue to offer 11+ inch displays. I doubt we’ll be able to call these systems thin-and-LIGHT though..

[Check it out via Gizmodo AU]

It’s time once again to check out the latest netbook/thin-and-light notebook reviews to hit the web. Here goes nothing:

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Lenovo ThinkPad X100e reviewed by V3.co.uk (formerly vnunet.com):

Specs for the ThinkPad X100e include:

• 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo processor
• ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB HDD
• 11.6 inch 1366 x 768 resolution display
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Optional WWAN
• 3+ lb weight

Here’s what they thought of this lightweight professional notebook:

“Lenovo’s Thinkpad X100e is certainly more powerful than a netbook, and more usable thanks to its 11.6in display. However, its weight and price are comparable with some larger laptops with a 13in screen. Nevertheless, the X100e exudes a build quality rarely seen on other laptops, and many buyers will find this reassuring.”

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Dell Inspiron Mini 10 with T-Mobile 3G service reviewed by LaptopMag:

Priced at $199.99 with a new T-Mobile 3G webConnect 2 year mobile broadband contract. Here are the specs for the Dell Inspiron Mini 10:

• 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N450
• Windows 7 Starter OS
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB HDD
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, Ethernet connectivity
• 3 in 1 media card reader

Here’s the verdict:

“If you were to buy the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 directly from Dell with the same specs as the $199 T-Mobile model, you’d pay $329. That’s a savings of $130. But in exchange for that savings you’ll wind up spending $960 over the next two years just for data. That sounds like a lot for a netbook—and it is—but it’s still considerably less than what other carriers charge for their mobile broadband plans. If the touchpad worked better we might be more enthused about this machine, especially since it delivers faster 3G data than the competition. While the Mini 10 with T-Mobile webConnect has some things going for it, the $49 webConnect Rocket USB modem, which you can pair with any netbook or full-size notebook, is a better value.”

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Lenovo S10-3 reviewed by Australian PC Authority:

Specs of the Lenovo S10-3 include:

• 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB HDD
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 LED backlit display
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Windows 7 Starter
• 6 cell battery

Here’s their verdict:

“The clean looks, impressive keyboard and overall battery life make this a neat little netbook, and while its shortcomings are primarily battery life, they aren’t the death knell they could be, given the excellent ergonomics”

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Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t Tablet PC Netbook reviewed by PC World:

I’ve always loved the idea of convertible netbook/notebook. I’m just not sold on the Atom processor and touch-based Windows 7 end-user experiences.

Specs of the S10-3t include:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• 10.1 inch LED backlit 1024 x 600 resolution touch-screen display
• Dolby Headphone technology

Here’s what PC World thought of the S10-3t:

“The Lenovo S10-3t is, at best, decent as a netbook and decent as a tablet. While it’s nice to have the functionality of both, I think I’d get better use out of something that was just really good as one or the other–a great netbook or a great tablet would be better than something that’s merely mediocre at being both”

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Acer Aspire 1410 thin-and-light notebook reviewed by Anandtech:

Specs for the Acer Aspire 1410 include:

• Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor clocked at 1.4GHz
• Intel GS40 chipset
• 2GB of RAM
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 11.6 inch LED backlit display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• 250GB 5400RPM HDD
• Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity
• HD audio
• USB 2.0, HDMI
• 6 cell battery

Here’s what they thought of the 1410:

“If you can live with the hit on battery life, there are many, many reasons to spring for an Acer 1410 or a similarly low priced CULV ultraportable notebook, even with a single-core processor. They offer adequate performance, embarrass the Atom, and come equipped with some nice features that most netbooks leave on the wayside to reduce cost as much as possible.”

Oh yeah – want a contrasting review? Check out our review of the 1410 here.

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HP Shopping

Looking for a fashionable netbook for that special someone in your life? HP has the HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition available for a starting price of $599.99. At this price, you’ll get the following:

• Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit OS
• Intel Atom N450 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 10.1 inch WSVGA LED backlit anti-glare widescreen display
• HP Mini Webcam
• 802.11 Wi-Fi
• 3 cell lithium-ion battery
• Microsoft Works 9.0

Want something with a bit more pep than an Atom-powered netbook? Check out the HP Pavilion dm3z series available now with a starting price of $529.99. This 13.3 inch thin-and-light features:

• AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 processor
• ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB 7200RPM HDD with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• 13.3 inch HD LED HP BrightView widescreen display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• Built-in webcam
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• 6 cell polymer battery
• Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
• Microsoft Works 9.0

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Dell.com

Dell is currently running their Earth Day deals with the Inspiron Mini 10 netbook available for $329. The netbook ships in renewable bamboo packaging and features:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Windows 7 Starter
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• Intel NM10 Express Chipset
• HD audio 2.0
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• 56WHr 6 cell Lithium-Ion battery

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Geeks.com

Computer Geeks has the refurbished Samsung NP-N210 Atom N450-based netbook available now for a low price of $274.99. Specs to the N210 include:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Intel NM10 Express Chipset
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• Intel GMA3150 graphics
• SRS 3D Surround Sound
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity
• 3 in 1 media card reader
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• 10.1 inch LED backlit LCD display
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• 6 cell lithium-ion battery

Next up is the refurbished Gateway EC1440u 11.6 inch netbook available at Geeks.com for a low price of $359.99. Specs are as follows:

• Intel Celeron M ULV 743 1.3 GHz processor
• Intel GS45 Express Chipset
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM HDD
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• Dolby Sound Room
• 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet connectivity
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• Multi-in-one card reader
• 11.6 inch LED backlit display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• 6 cell lithium ion battery

Not quite a thin-and-light but close enough in our eyes is the refurbished Toshiba U505-S2002 notebook available now at Geeks.com for a low price of $589.99. Specs include:

• Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit OS
• 6 cell battery
• Intel Pentium dual-core T4400 processor clocked at 2.2 GHz
• 4GB RAM
• 500GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• DVD burner
• Intel GMA 4500M graphics
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-FI
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• 13.3 inch widescreen display with 1280 x 800 resolution
• 6 cell lithium ion battery

LaptopMag recently reviewed the thin-and-light, business-oriented Dell Vostro V13.  Based on the Adamo form factor, but hundreds of dollars cheaper, the Vostro V13 features:

• Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
• 13.3 inch 1366 x 768 resolution display
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Windows 7 Professional
• Ethernet
• Headphone and microphone ports
• USB/eSATA combo port, 2 USB ports, VGA port
• 5 in 1 card reader
• ExpressCard/34 slot

Here’s what LaptopMag thought of the thin-and-light:

“Dell has created another attractive notebook that is not only more expensive than its peers, but it comes up short in terms of endurance.”

Next up, Liliputing has a new review up of the $599 Lenovo IdeaPad S12 netbook featuring the NVIDIA ION platform. Specs include:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• NVIDIA ION
• 2GB of RAM
• 250GB HDD
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 6 cell 52Whr battery
• Windows 7 Home Premium

Here’s what they thought of the system:

“if you want a model that can reliably handle HD video, Flash video, and some 3D gaming, as well as pump out video to an HDTV via an HDMI port, the NVIDIA ION model is the way to go….

But with a starting price of around $599, I can’t think of many reasons to pick up the NVIDIA ION version of the IdeaPad S12 instead of a computer like the Lenovo IdeaPad U150 with an Intel CULV processor which offers better overall performance, even if it doesn’t score quite as highly on graphics benchmarks.”

CNET published a new review of the ASUS Eee PC1005PEB netbook here on their website. The 1005PEB can typically be found at Best Buy for a reasonable price of $329.99. Specs for this netbook include:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Intel NM10 Express Chipset
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB SATA HDD
• 3 in 1 media card reader
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution LED backlit display
• 0.3 megapixel webcam
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• Windows 7 Starter

Here’s the verdict:

“This retail version of the popular Eee PC Netbook, the 1005PEB, hits the required notes, and is a little less expensive than many other retail Netbooks (but more than some online models).”

And finally, Anandtech reviews the ASUS Eee PC 1001P netbook – calling it their “favorite netbook” so far. The 1001P is the latest addition to ASUS’s Seashell product lineup, eschewing the glossy finish of the 1005 series with a textured matte finish. Spec wise, the 1001P features:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Intel NM10 chipset
• 1GB of RAM
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 10.1 inch LED Matte display
• 250GB 5400 RPM HDD
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connectivity
• HD audio
• 6 cell 48Wh battery
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• Media card reader
• Microphone/headphone jack
• VGA port
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Available in white, black, blue, and pink

Why is this Anandtech’s favorite netbook yet? Here’s why:

“A well built and attractively styled netbook with a great LCD, good battery life, no major design flaws, and few minor faults, but a netbook nonetheless, and as with so many other netbook reviews, the main takeaway remains. They’re the smallest, lightest, and cheapest portable computers that money can buy, but they’re also dog slow and not particularly enjoyable to use.”

Dell expands their business-class thin-and-light notebook product lineup with today’s introduction of the new Vostro 3000 series. Available in screen sizes ranging from 13 inches up to 17 inches, the new 3000 series features the latest Intel Core processors, high-end graphics, and built-in security.

The Vostro 3000 series is currently made up of the 13 inch Vostro 3300, 14 inch Vostro 3400, 15 inch Vostro 3500, and 17 inch Vostro 3700. Common features across all the 3000 series include:

• Core i3 to Core i5 processors
• Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
• 2-4GB of RAM
• 250-500GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
• DVD+/-RW drive
• Intel integrated graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics
• Built-in webcam and microphone for videoconferencing
• 802.11 g/n Wi-Fi
• Support for up to 6GB of memory
• Optional fingerprint reader
• Full data-encrypted hard drive
• Dell DataSafe online backup

Additional info on the systems follows:

Vostro 3300:

• One of the thinnest 13 inch notebooks with built-in DVD drive
• 13.3 inch HD Wide LED anti-glare display
• Up to 6GB of memory
• Mobile Intel HM57 Express Chipset
• 4 cell Lithium Ion battery or optional 8 cell battery
• Available in Aberdeen Silver, Lucerne Red, Brisbane Bronze
• Integrated speaker
• 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 eSATA/USB combo port
• 5 in 1 media card reader
• 34mm ExpressCard slot
• VGA video connector
• Measures 12.8 x 9.02 x 0.79 ~ 1.13 inches
• Weighs 4.01 lbs with 4 cell battery and no drive
• Starting price of $69

Vostro 3400:

• Mobile Intel HM57 Express Chipset
• 14 inch HD wide LED anti-glare display
• 2 integrated stereo speakers
• 6 cell lithium-ion battery (or 4 and 9 cell available too)
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 eSATA/USB port
• 8 in 1 media card reader
• 34mm ExpressCard slot
• HDMI port
• VGA port
• Measures 13.35 x 9.54 x 0.86~1.16 inches
• Weighs 4.56 lbs with 4 cell and optical drive
• Up to 8 hours of power with 9 cell battery
• Available in Aberdeen Silver, Lucerne Red, Brisbane Bronze
• Starting price of $649

Vostro 3500:

• 15.6 inch HD wide LED anti-glare display
• HM57 Express Chipset
• 2 integrated speakers
• Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1
• 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB 2.0/eSATA port
• 8 in 1 media card reader
• 34mm ExpressCard slot
• HDMI port
• 6 cell lithium-ion battery (4 or 9 cell optional)
• Measures 14.76 x 9.84 x 0.90 ~ 1.23 inches
• Weighs 5.10 lbs with 4 cell battery and optical drive
• Available in Aberdeen Silver, Lucerne Red, Brisbane Bronze
• Starting price of $649

Vostro 3700:

• Core i7 quad-core processors available
• Mobile Intel HM57 Express Chipset
• 17.3 inch HD+ Wide LED anti-glare display
• 2 integrated stereo speakers
• Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1
• 4 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB/eSATA combo port
• 8 in 1 media card reader
• 34mm ExpressCard slot
• VGA and HDMI port
• Measures 16.17 x 10.67 x 1.06~1.35 inches
• Weighs 5.95 lbs with 6 cell battery and optical drive
• 6 cell lithium-ion battery (or 9 cell optional)
• Available in Aberdeen Silver, Lucerne Red, Brisbane Bronze
• Starting price of $679

Systems are available today in the U.S. and parts of Asia. Folks in Europe, Latin America, and other regions will be able to order them starting on March 16th.

WiMAX connectivity is now available as a configuration option for the Dell Inspiron Mini 10. Available as a $60 dollar upgrade to the Mini 10, the WiMAX support comes in the form of a internal combo mini-card supporting both WiMAX and Wi-Fi connectivity.

If you’re not sure about WiMAX coverage in your area, head over to clear.com’s website for more information. Yes, it’s sparse at this time in the U.S., but it’s expanding rapidly in Asia and Europe.

[Check it out via Direct2Dell]

Who says you can’t game on a sub-12 inch notebook platform? Certainly not Dell as they’ve announced the availability of the Alienware M11x which provides the graphics power typically found on larger laptop systems with the form factor and battery life of thin-and-light notebook systems.

According to Dell, the 11.6 inch Alienware M11x scores over 6100 with the 3DMark06 benchmark – easily crushing integrated graphics performance typically found on competing 11.6 inch systems. What makes this all possible is the use of a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics card. Don’t need the graphics performance of the GeForce GT 335M? No problem. The M11x comes with switchable graphics allowing you to easily switch between discrete graphics to integrated graphics. Switching to integrated graphics also means the M11x can enjoy upwards of 8.5 hours of battery life.

At the heart of the Alienware M11x notebook is an Intel CULV processor (either the Intel Pentium SU4100 processor clocked at 1.3GHz or the Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor clocked at 1.3GHz). These processors provide just enough horsepower for most gaming needs while also remaining power-efficient for long battery lives.

Other features and specs include:

• 2-8GB of memory
• Choose from 160GB to 500GB SATA HDD or 256GB Solid State Drive
• 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics
• 11.6 inch 1366 x 768 WLED display
• Internal HD surround sound
• Ethernet port
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• DisplayPort and HDMI output
• Available in either Cosmic Black or Lunar Silver

Prices for the Alienware M11x start at $799 (which includes 2GB of RAM and the Intel Pentium SU4100 processor. Switch to the Core 2 Duo SU7300 and the system price will rise to $899.

So why even consider this notebook if you can possibly get cheaper notebooks with even better graphics? It comes down to a balanced mix of portability, graphics performance, battery life, and price. Need graphics power? Switch on the NVIDIA graphics. Need long battery life? Switch to integrated graphics.

Pretty sweet.

[Check it out]

For those of you who believe that nail polish colors rule, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Dell has added six new nail polish shades to the Inspiron Mini 10 netbook as part of a partnership with QPI. The six colors, all inspired by the city of Hong Kong, are Dim Sum Plum, Hot & Spicy, Jade is the New Black, Meet Me on the Star Ferry, Red My Fortune Cookie, and Suzi Says Feng Shui.

Dim Sum Plum:

Hot & Spicy:

Jade is the New Black:

Meet Me on the Star Ferry:

Suzi Says Feng Shui:

Dell announces a new “beauty” for the corporate world with yesterday’s introduction of the new thin-and-light Latitude 13 notebook. Taking design cues from the popular Vostro 13, the Latitude 13 is supposedly the “world’s thinnest 13 inch commercial client laptop” and comes with many of the same internal guts as those found on the Vostro 13.

Additional corporate features on the Latitude 13 include:

• Support for Broadcom TruManage technology and Dell ImageDirect service which lets IT create, update, and deploy system images 24/7 from a secure online location
• Desktop virtualization through certification from Citrix and VMware
• Customized security offerings including solid state drives, full-disk encryption, Trusted Platform Module control, and Computrace software
• Complete range of connectivity options including optional WWAN mobile broadband, Bluetooth, and 802.11 g/n Wi-Fi
• Optional external Blu-ray drive
• 13.3 inch display
• Weight of 3.36 pounds
• Intel ULV processor support
• Choice of Windows 7 or Windows XP

The Latitude 13 will be available in the coming weeks.

Yeah it’s been awhile since we ran a “Netbook Deals of the Day” posting – mostly because the holiday season was over and the transition to the new Pine Trail platform was upon us. However, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, several e-tailers are running netbook deals that you might be interested in, so without further ado, let’s check out them deals!

In the thin-and-light category, Newegg is selling the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1305 notebook for a mere $549.99 ($150 dollars off the original price of $699.99). Specs for this thin-and-light include an Intel Pentium SU4100 ULV processor clocked at 1.3GHz, a 13.3 inch 1366 x 768 resolution display, 3GB of RAM, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit, 320GB HDD, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, built-in stereo speakers, and full-sized keyboard. The notebook measures 12.7" x 8.78" x 0.87-1.35" and weighs a reasonable 3.88lbs. The Pentium SU4100 will provide 2-2.5x more processing power than your typical Atom N270 processor so this is certainly a notebook to consider if you want a bit more oomph in your everyday needs.

The other notable Newegg.com deal is for the ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA-PU1X-BK Crystal Black 10.1" WSVGA Netbook – priced at $319.99 ($30 dollars off the original price of $349.99). This netbook features the Intel Atom N280 processor (it’s a pre-Pine Trail netbook), a 10.1 inch LED-backlit display, 1GB of RAM, a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, built-in speakers, media card reader, and a 6 cell battery for approximately 10+ hours of battery life.

Let’s move over to Geeks.com, a great place to find new and refurbished units.

We’ve never heard of the company, but Geeks is offering the PeeCee Mini M02 Atom N270-based netbook for a low price of $259.99. This system (which is almost gone) features:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA950 graphics
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 10.2 inch widescreen LCD display
• Built-in 3 in 1 card reader
• Measures 10.35 x 7.24 x 1.36 inches and weighs 2.78 pounds

Should you buy it? If you’re not sure of the brand then you might want to reconsider.. but if you have cash to blow and you’re adventurous, then why not check it out!

Fans of the original MSI Wind U100 will definitely want to check out the current deals over at Geeks.com where the company is offering 3 cell versions for a mere $279.99. They have them in pink, white, and black. The specs are:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA 950 graphics
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 10 inch WSVGA display
• Windows XP Home Edition
• Media card reader

If you’re a fan of convertible notebooks, then check out the Geeks.com deal on the ASUS Eee PC T91 here on their website. The 8.9 inch system features the Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB solid state drive, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, 0.3 megapixel webcam, and Windows XP. Perhaps even funnier is the comparison chart that Geeks put up on the site comparing the T91 against the newly announced Apple iPad. Here are snippets from the chart (keep in mind, I’m merely copying what THEY put up. I am stating this myself so don’t go flaming me for this!):

Heh.. the sad thing is – yes the T91 supports Adobe Flash thanks to Windows XP.. but can the Atom Z520 handle HD flash video.. uhh.. don’t think so.

Alright, the final “deals” come from Dell where they’re currently offering the Dell Mini 10 and 10v at low starting prices. In fact, starting prices for both the Mini 10 and the 10v come in at $279. The Mini 10 has the updated Pine Trail platform while the Mini 10v is using the older Atom platform featuring the Atom N270 processor. Both systems feature similar specs as well as a small 3 cell battery. Want a 6 cell battery for that Mini 10?  You can get one for $299 which still isn’t a bad price. Finally, Dell is also offering a Mini 10 model with a built-in GPS for a price of $399.

OK, our final vendor of the day is PC Mall where they’re offering the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light notebook for a mere $469.99. OK the check out price is actually a tad-bit higher at $519.99 (the actual price is $569.99 minus an instant rebate of $50 dollars and then a mail-in rebate of $50 dollars. Yes, we hate mail-in rebates too). The U350 features an Intel Pentium SU4100 processor, a 13.3 inch LED backlit display, 3GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, a 4 cell battery, and an HDMI port.