Lenovo ThinkPad Twist vs Dell XPS 12 vs Toshiba Satellite U925T :Who is the best?

Lenovo ThinkPad Twist                                                                                                                               The ThinkPad Twist has great Lenovo construction, a responsive touch screen, and a center hinge for flipping into tablet mode, all for a very reasonable price.The Twist has an uncommon size 12.5-inch screen, and at 1.6 kg is heavy for an Ultrabook of this size, let alone a tablet that usually weighs much less than half that.The ThinkPad Twist has a third-generation Intel Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM (3.82GB usable), and a 500GB HDD spinning at 7200rpm alongside a 24GB SSD caching drive. The Twist also has built-in Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and a slot for a SIM card, for users who want to be connected. But, The screen accelerometer can have a mind of its own, flipping into portrait view randomly. Battery life is merely OK, and the screen resolution is low for a modern laptop/tablet convertible.                                                                                                                                                                                                           The bottom line: Slightly less conservative-feeling than the average ThinkPad, the well-made ThinkPad Twist offers one of the better tablet modes from the first wave of Windows 8 convertibles.

Windows 8 (64-bit); 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 7,200rpm                                                                                                   Specifications

ProcessorIntel 3rd Gen Core i5i5-3317U / 1.7 GHz ( 2.6 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB

Hard Drive500 GB - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8English / MUI

Display Type12.5 in IPS

Max Resolution1366 x 768 ( HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                       Price;$749.99 to $899.99                                                                                                                         VS                                                                                                                                                            Dell XPS 12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Dell XPS 12 is a thin, powerful, very cleverly designed touch-screen convertible that flips into multiple screen positions.This machine’s key feature is a 12.5-inch touchscreen with a native resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels that pivots inside its aluminum frame—just as on the original. Open the lid, and you can use the computer as you would any other notebook. You simply push the top front or bottom back of the display to pop it out of its frame, and then flip it over and close it to convert the machine into a tabletThe biggest improvement, though, lies in battery life. The Ivy Bridge version of the XPS 12 provided 5 hours of streaming video, but that figure rose to a 6 hours and 45 minutes when we tested again with the same test.The Dell XPS 12 is one of the most powerful Ultrabooks you'll find. It might be heavy and awkward as a tablet, but when you consider the value that's on offer, with the blistering processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD drive, there's more than meets the eye..

But, For all the hype about touch and tablets with Windows 8, the XPS 12 still works better as a laptop than as a slate. Its battery life is on the low side.

The bottom line: Dell has revamped its rotating Duo laptop concept into the much-improved XPS 12, but like most convertibles, it makes a better laptop than tablet.

Windows 8 (64-bit); 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-3517U; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 32MB (Shared) Intel HD 4000; 256GB Lite-On IT SSD                                                                                                             Specifications

ProcessorIntel 3rd Gen Core i5 3317U / 2.6 GHz

Memory4 GB

Hard Drive128 GB

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8

Display Type12.5 in

Max Resolution1920 x 1080

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD 4000

Weight3.35 lbs                                                                                                                                           Price;$1,199.99                                                                                                                                         VS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Toshiba Satellite U925T                                                                                                                             A solidly built slider-style Windows 8 convertible, the Toshiba Satellite U925t includes features, such as a touch pad, that others leave out.The Toshiba Satellite U925t can be used as a tablet, but the 12.5-inch screen slides up to reveal a backlit keyboard beneath it.The U925t is sold in one configuration on Toshiba's site: the same $1,150 model we tested with the Core i5-3317U processor, 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM. Those are fairly typical specs, as far as Ultrabooks go, though some power users might lament that they can't configure it with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM or 256 gigs of storage.Battery life on the U925t is good, as long as you're paying attention. I got about five hours of constant use from the device, in a mix of tablet and laptop mode. (That doesn't include playing any games, which absolutely destroys the battery.)                     But, The design leaves the screen exposed at all times, so you'll need a case or sleeve. The screen resolution is low for a $1,149 laptop.

The bottom line: The mechanical elements of the Toshiba Satellite U925t convertible laptop are complex, but well-made. It won't be your main machine, but it's one of the more usable Windows 8 launch experiments.

Windows 8 (64-bit); 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Samsung SSD                                                                                                       Specifications

ProcessorIntel 3rd Gen Core i5i5-3317U / 1.7 GHz ( 2.6 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB / 8 GB (max)

Hard Drive128 GB- Serial ATA-300

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8

Display Type12.5 inIPS

Max Resolution1366 x 768 ( HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                      Price;$1,149.99 

HP EliteBook Folio 9470m vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon vs Apple MacBook Air:Which is better?

HP EliteBook Folio 9470m                                                                                                                       The HP Elitebook 9470m has a solid, lightweight design, great battery life, and lots of ports and security features.Its 1366x768-pixel resolution just doesn't seem like its good enough for a 14in model. We would have liked an HD panel in this laptop for the price (or at least a 1600x900 panel), and also a panel with better vertical viewing angles. The screen is quite bright though and we love the matte finish, which means that reflections won't be irritating while using it with light sources behind you.The battery life of HP Elitebook 9470m "up to 9 hours and 30 minutes.

But, There's no touch screen, it has a non-high-res display, and there's a general lack of unique features to justify its high price.

The bottom line: The HP Elitebook Folio 9470m does a serviceable job at being a good thin all-around Windows 8 business laptop, but it doesn’t rise from the pack, and it doesn’t take any chances.

System configurations:                                                                                                                               Windows 8 Pro (64-bit); 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-3427U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 180GB Intel SSD                                                                                             Specifications

Processor3rd Gen Core i5Intel i5-3427U / 1.8 GHz ( 2.8 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB / 16 GB (max)

Hard Drive180 GB - Serial ATA-600

Operating SystemWindows 8 Pro / 7 Professional 64-bit Edition downgrade

Display Type14 in

Max Resolution1366 x 768 ( HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000

Weight3.6 lbs                                                                                                                                             Price;$1,224.90 to $1,356.75                                                                                                                     VS                                                                                                                                                             Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon                                                                                                                       It's the excellent power management,Incredibly light for a 14-inch laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is ruggedly built, and has a better keyboard than any ultrabook-style laptop, even Apple's MacBook Air.

 Performance:                                                                                                                                                Despite packing a middle-of-the-road Intel Core i5 processor, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon stormed our benchmark tests. The score of 9601 in our Cinebench test puts it on par with many Intel Core i7 laptops we've seen, which shows that Lenovo has chosen the very best chip on offer.

In real terms this means that any modern program is fair game for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and you could multitask even the most demanding software - be it bespoke business packages or classic applications such as Photoshop or Microsoft Office.Graphics capability isn't so hot, since the responsibility for 3D is left to the onboard Intel HD 4000 core, which is built into the processor.

Onboard graphics aren't as woeful as they used to be, and there's plenty enough power to keep Windows fast and responsive, and enable picture and video editing, but if you're working professionally with HD video rendering, or looking to play the odd game in your spare time, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon will come up short. If there's one triumph of the Lenovo X1 Carbon, it's the excellent power management, which comes via some nifty Lenovo technology. We turned the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon up to maximum performance and looped HD video to kill the battery within a respectable 164 minutes.

However, if you use the built-in software, accessible via the taskbar, you can dynamically alter the power usage to achieve around six hours of use. This is predominantly achieved by dimming the ferociously bright LED display, which makes a huge difference in the Ultrabook's stamina.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          But, For such an expensive laptop, battery life is just so-so.Battery Eater: 164 mins. Consumer-friendly options such as HDMI are missing.

The bottom line: The business-oriented Lenovo ThinkPad X1 has a few quirks, but is otherwise a very impressive business-oriented ultrabook with strong crossover potential.

System configurations:                                                                                                                                 Windows 8 (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-3427U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 180GB Intel SSD                                                                                             Specifications

Processor3rd Gen Core i5 1.8 GHzIntel i5-3427U ( 2.8 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB/ 4 GB (max)

Hard Drive128 GB- Serial ATA-600

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 7 Professional

Display Type14 in

Max Resolution1600 x 900 ( HD+ )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                    Price;$1,424.05 to $1,684.00                                                                                                                      VS                                                                                                                                                           Apple MacBook Air                                                                                                                                   The MacBook Air has been known for its good battery life.New Intel fourth-gen CPUs help the updated MacBook Air achieve amazing battery life. The multitouch trackpad is still the industry's best, and even better, the 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $100 less than the previous model.                                                                                                                                                  

Performance:

The new Haswell processors use very little power, giving the 2013 13-inch MacBook Air and absolutely stunning battery life. In our test, in which we streamed the live BBC News channel feed on iPlayer over a wireless network, the laptop lasted for nine hours. That's significantly better than the 11-inch MacBook Air's 7 hours 15 minutes, and a substantial improvement over the 2012 MacBook Air's 5.5 hours.

Since switching to solid state storage off the shelf with the late 2010 update, the MacBook Air has been known for its good battery life. But with the Haswell processors in place, it's absolutely stunning. At last, you can use your notebook all day long on a single charge.

But, Newer features such as touch screens and higher-resolution displays are still missing. The ultrabook competition is catching up, in terms of design.

The bottom line: Apple keeps the latest MacBook Air updates on the inside, but greatly improved battery life and a lower starting price make up for a lack of flashy design changes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Specifications

Release date06/10/13

ProcessorIntelCore i5 1.3 GHz ( 2.6 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

RAM installed size4 GB

Hard Drive128 GB

Operating SystemApple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

Display Type13.3 in

Max Resolution1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 5000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                      Price $1,099

Razer Edge Pro vs Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro vs Microsoft Surface Pro:Best fit for use is...................

Razer Edge Pro                                                                                                                                           The Razer Edge Pro comes with an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce graphics, which can handle even demanding games like BioShock Infinite. Gaming-optimized Windows 8 tablet with onboard Nvidia graphics; offers plenty of ways to play games via extra accessories; relatively easy setup.

But, The Gamepad also makes it quite heavy. You'll be most comfortable playing it in bed, at a desk or on the couch, not on the bus. And you'll probably look pretty odd pulling it out in public. Gaming performance trails that of comparably priced gaming laptops; lacks 1080p screen; design is thicker and heavier than other Windows 8 tablets; lacks Ethernet and SD slot; battery life runs short when gaming; price skews high when accessories are factored in.

The bottom line: The Razer Edge is an awesome toy that's a bit ahead of its time. The Razer Edge is one of the most inventive PC gaming devices in years, but you'll pay a premium for portability and proprietary add-ons.                                                                                                                                                           Specifications

Release date03/28/13

ProcessorIntel 3rd Gen Core i7i7-3517U / 1.9 GHz ( 3 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory8 GB

Hard Drive256 GB - Serial ATA-600

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8

Display Type10.1 in IPS

Max Resolution1366 x 768 ( HD )

Graphics ProcessorNVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE / Intel HD Graphics 4000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0

Video Memory2 GB DDR3 SDRAM                                                                                                Price;$1,449.99

VS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T                                                                                                           Samsung’s ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T hybrid is a fast, full-powered Core i5 tablet, has a 1080p screen, comes with its own keyboard base, and includes the pressure-sensitive S-Pen that’s very accurate and responsive.The ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T may not offer the selection of ports and connections you'd expect on a full-fledged laptop, but it's par for the course for detachable tablets. It's equipped with one full-size USB 3.0 port, a headset jack, a microSD card slot, and micro HDMI port.The inclusion of an S-Pen and keyboard dock help make the Core i5-powered Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T a formidable multitasking tablet.The Samsung's 4 cell Lithium Ion polymer battery puts in a relatively good showing here and we averaged 5.5 to 6 hours of actual use time on a charge with WiFi on and brightness set to 50% with auto-brightness turned on. That's about an hour better than Surface Pro but an hour short of the Acer W700.

But, Battery life isn’t great for a tablet; it lacks laptop-style features like Ethernet and a standard SD card slot; plus, it’s even more expensive than the Surface Pro.

The bottom line: The Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T walks the line between ultrabook-level laptop and tablet, but doesn’t truly excel at either.                                                                                                          Specifications

Processor3rd Gen Core i5Intel i5-3317U / 1.7 GHz ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB / 4 GB (max)

Hard Drive128 GB - Serial ATA-300

Operating SystemWindows 8 64-bit Edition

Display Type11.6 in

Max Resolution1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                       Price;$1,179.00 to $1,231.98                                                                                                                    VS                                                                                                                                                             Microsoft Surface Pro                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Making your mind up about the Surface Pro is less about what it is and what it does and more about what you want out of a tablet. As a hybrid PC it's an undeniable compromise - but that's no bad thing.The Microsoft Surface Pro fits a full ultrabook experience in a compact 10-inch tablet. Thanks to the ingenious Type and Touch covers, it offers a comfortable interface and typing experience. The clean, crisp design and sharp 1080p screen rise above the competition.

But, The battery life is disappointing, and more ports would be nice. The 64GB model barely has any free storage. It costs as much as a regular laptop, especially because the cool keyboard cover isn't included by default.

The bottom line: The Surface Pro's gutsy design successfully reinvents the Windows 8 laptop by cramming an ultrabook experience into the body of a 10-inch tablet. Those wanting to go all-in on the tablet experience won't regret buying the Surface Pro, but we're holding out for a future, more polished generation of the device.

Windows 8 Pro (64-bit); 1.7GHz IntelCore i5; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Sharedl) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Micron SSD                                                                                                         Specifications

Release date02/9/13

Display type10.6 inColor TFT active matrix - Yes

OSMicrosoft Windows 8 Pro

RAM4 GB

Processor3rd Gen Core i5Intel

Wireless connectivityIEEE 802.11nIEEE 802.11bIEEE 802.11aIEEE 802.11g

Dimensions (WxDxH)0.53 in10.8 in 6.8 in

Weight903 g                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Price;$899.99

Microsoft Surface Book vs Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display:Best fit for use is...................

Microsoft Surface Book                                                                                                                     The Microsoft Surface Book packs high-end components, including new Intel processors and optional Nvidia graphics, into a smart, slim body. Some components and most of the battery are hidden in the base, so the tablet half is lighter. The high-res screen looks great, and the included stylus pen is excellent.                                            The Surface Book has 13.5-inch display offers 3,000 x 2,000 resolution for 267ppi. Microsoft also uses its new PixelSense technology which essentially means a very thin, closely bonded, glass screen for super responsive touch and stylus controls. The Surface Book, also all metal, offers a detachable screen that doubles as a tablet. But this has meant a slight increase in thickness to nearly 23mm when closed. The Surface Book display offers sixth-gen Intel Core i5 and i7 chip 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. While the tablet part of the Surface Book is limited to the Intel HD Graphic 520, there is a separate GPU in the keyboard section. This is an Nvidia GeForce processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory. The Surface Book offers plenty of connectivity options that vary and may appeal to different people's needs. The Surface Book offers two USB 3.0 ports and full microSD. The MacBook features an HDMI port where the Surface Book is limited to a Mini Display Port and using a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.The Surface Book is no ordinary Surface, sporting a sleek, all-silver, magnesium design with a unique, flexible hinge designed to keep the laptop's removable display from getting too wobbly. But while Microsoft mostly knocks it out of the park with its first laptop, the device is still a bit top-heavy, and opening the lid is more difficult than we'd like.  Microsoft’s Surface Book offers SSD storage options of 128 GB/256 GB/512 GB/1 TB. It also comes with a microSD slot. The new Microsoft tablet cum laptop hybrid bears an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP primary camera and will run on latest Windows 10.                                                                                     Microsoft is downplaying the Surface Book as a tablet by calling it "clipboard mode," but you can remove the Surface Book's screen to use as a humongous slate. This should be a big upgrade over the Surface Pro 3, as both the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 have big glass trackpads – a lot like Apple's MacBooks.                               Battery life:                                                                                                                                           Battery life on the Surface Book is both pretty good and surprisingly disappointing. While Microsoft has promised 12 hours of continual usage and other outlets report getting even more juice out of the machine, our best time for the device was 7 hours and 39 minutes. As for the Clipboard on its own, the tablet can last for 4 hours.      While these are more than respectable numbers considering all the hardware inside the Surface Book, I honestly expected a much longer run time. The good news is this notebook recharges quickly, going from zero to 100% charge in under two hours.           BUT,Configurations with the optional Nvidia GPU and more storage get very expensive. There are some first-generation quirks, including an awkward gap between the screen and base when closed.                                                                                              THE BOTTOM LINE While it's not nearly as refined as the new fourth-gen Surface Pro, Microsoft's Surface Book is a powerful, feature-filled premium hybrid that doesn't forget it's a laptop first.                                                                                                                          Price:$1499.00

   VS                                                                                                                                                           Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display (13-inch,2015)                                                      The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display adds the Force Touch trackpad from the new MacBook as well as fifth generation Intel processors, Intel Iris Graphics 6100 graphics, and up to 10 hours of battery life.Apple adds new Intel CPUs, faster memory, longer battery life and its new Force Touch trackpad to the standard 13-inch MacBook Pro, which keeps its generous selection of ports.  When compared to last year’s 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, the new models are only 7 percent faster than the older laptops they respectively replace. In order to see gains over 10 percent, you have to compare the new laptop to models released in 2013.

The graphics improvement is much more impressive: The new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro had a 29 percent increase over last year’s models in the Cinebench OpenGL tests. It’s not the 40 percent that Apple touts, but Apple’s testing was done with a different benchmark that includes three video games.

In the Black Magic Disk Speed Test, the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro posted an average write speed of 1156.1 MBps and an average read speed of 1299.9 MBps. The 13-inch Macbook Pro hasn't had a radical redesign, and its shape, dimensions, weight and port configurations are identical to the outgoing model. That means two Thunderbolt 2 ports, a USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack and a MagSafe 2 port on the left, and a second USB 3.0 port, SDXC card slot and HDMI 1.4 port on the right. The screen resolution is 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, but you actually get the screen real-estate of a 1,280 x 800 pixel-resolution display due to the pixel-doubled effect that provides Retina-like sharpness. Apps like SwitchResX allow you to access even higher resolutions than OS X allows, stretching all the way up to 3,360 x 2,100.

Text is too tiny to be legible at that setting, but opting for one in-between, such as 1,920 x 1,200, lets you fit much more of spreadsheets and other apps into the display than any of the default screen resolutions at the expensive of clarity.

BUT,The 2015 updates make only a minor difference to the hands-on experience, while similar high-end 13-inch laptops continue to get thinner and lighter.

THE BOTTOM LINE While the upcoming 12-inch MacBook has all the buzz, this 13-inch system gets a handful of updates to remain a top choice for combining power and portability.                                                                                                                                        Specs                                                                                                                                              Display:13.3-inch    Processor: Intel Core i5     Processor Speed Standard :2.7GHz  Memory (RAM):8GB    Solid State Drive (SSD):128GB                                     Processor Speed Maximum: 3.1GHz    3D:  Intel Iris 6100    Display Finish : Glass    Ethernet:  No    Wi-Fi:  801.11ac      Mobile Broadband/3G: No        Bluetooth: 4.0              Webcam: Yes   HDMI: Yes    DisplayPort:  2 (Thunderbolt)   Audio Connections: Single multi-jack    USB 3.0 : 2                                                                                                                   Price:$1299:00,

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix vs Asus Transformer Book TX300 vs Sony Vaio Pro 13 Touch Ultrabook:Best performer is.................

                                                                                                                                    Lenovo ThinkPad Helix                                                                                         The ThinkPad Helix is powered by a third generation Intel Ivy Bridge processor, up to Core i7 and up to 8GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM. Aiding performance is an SSD of up to 256GB so its performance is top-notch. You’ll be able to choose between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.The Lenovo ThinkPad Helix will be available in an array of spec configurations, but the one we saw  demonstrated was a mid-range example, with a Core i5 processor. Core i7 options will also be available. The ThinkPad Helix uses current Ivy Bridge-generation CULV Intel chips, backed-up by 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The screen and base are each under 2.0 pounds, but that's on the hefty side for an 11.6-inch system. That said, it's 20mm thin, qualifying for ultrabook status, and can run processors up to Intel's current-gen Core i7.Travel-friendly features include 3G/4G antenna options, NFC chip, and a spill-resistant keyboard.The Lenovo ThinkPad Helix feels like a hybrid roadwarrior. It's reasonably light, especially in its class, offers great build quality and careful attention to detail in its construction. It may not be a beauty, but it's one of the better full Windows 8 hybrid designs out there.            Performance and battery life

A 1.8 GHz processor and 4GB of RAM may seem small on paper, but in practice the ThinkPad Helix is a surprisingly capable machine. Both the Windows 8 tiled interface and desktop ran smoothly on our review unit.

Browsing in either Chrome or Internet Explorer, we could get a dozen tabs going before performance started to chug. This is with the tablet docked in its helpful stand, which provides extra cooling and allows the processor to overclock a little.

The performance enhancement is noticeable, and the fans generate minimal noise. This is by no means a gaming machine, but we were able to play some Half Life 2: Episode 2 with an acceptable framerate.

The stand also provides additional battery life. With its help, we generally got 7 to 8 hours of web surfing and word processing. As just a tablet, the Helix got between 5 and 6 hours. That's not bad at all, certainly better than a Surface Pro, but one can't help but think of what Haswell could've done for this machine.

Price;$1,499                                                                                                              VS                                                                                                                             Asus Transformer Book TX300                                                                             The Asus Transformer Book TX300 is a rare hybrid with a Core i7 CPU, a high-res screen, and smart dual hard drives -- there's an SSD in the tablet half, and a larger hard drive in the keyboard base.The screen is fantastic, as is the overall build quality found across this aluminium-clad laptop. Quality oozes from every panel, and while it's in no way lightweight, the TX300 is thin enough to slip into a bag, although you'll feel it as you walk around.The tablet packs in a 38Whr battery, which gave us pretty good performance in Battery Eater Pro. We managed to get 2 hours and 28 minutes, which roughly translates to about 4-5-hours of real world usage. This is not bad considering we haven’t counted the battery in the dock as well.It runs Windows 8 on an Intel Core processor and also includes four gigabytes of RAM. Long-term storage is provided by 128Gb or 256GB solid state drives. This makes the system both a convertible and an Ultrabook. ASUS claims this is a world first, though that’s not exactly true. Dell and Lenovo have offered convertible Ultrabooks for months.The Asus Transformer Book TX300 is a great example of a hybrid laptop/tablet. Once the screen is attached, it turns into a true laptop with a high-performance processor and an excellent display. And as a tablet it's perfectly honourable.

But, The system is awkwardly top-heavy, and you feel as if you're fighting the touch pad at every turn.

The bottom line: Asus adds a lot of what I've been looking for in a hybrid to the Transformer Book, but no one has yet really nailed the perfect laptop/tablet combo.                                                                             Specifications

Processor3rd Gen Core i7Intel i7-3517U / 1.9 GHz ( 3 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB

Hard Drive500 GB - Serial ATA-300 - 5400 rpm

Operating SystemWindows 8 64-bit Edition

Display Type13.3 in IPS

Max Resolution1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                  Price;$1,454.99                                                                                                        VS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Sony Vaio Pro 13 Touch Ultrabook                                                               Clever design touches, light weight and good looks make the Sony Vaio Pro 13 worth waiting for if you’re out for a practical, portable laptop. If Sony’s battery claims ring true and its battery pack accessory is priced right, this could become one of the best Ultrabooks in town.The Sony Vaio Pro 13 weighs less than 2.4 pounds and uses a fourth-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor to deliver long battery life and very good everyday performance. It has an excellent 13.3-inch 1080p touch screen and is competitively priced for its features.the 13.3-inch Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 display is clearly the true star of the show. It’s immensely vibrant and bright, which makes it great for watching high-definition films and video, and the touchscreen is responsive and adds a new dimension to the Windows 8 interface.Battery life wasn’t quite what we were hoping for either. Sony claims battery life of up to seven hours – which can be increased to 18 hours with an optional battery pack – and we did get a respectable six hours and 20 minutes out of it when streaming video from BBC iPlayer.

But, The Pro 13, like its competition, has a nonremovable battery (though you can add an external battery), few ports and connections, and integrated graphics only. Memory maxes out at 8GB.

The bottom line: For those who want an excellent ultraportable laptop with more than just the latest Intel processors, the Sony Vaio Pro 13 Touch is it.                                                                                                                Specifications

ProcessorIntel 4th gen Core i7 ( Dual-Core )

Memory8 GB

Hard Drive512 GB

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8 Pro

Display Type13.3 in

Max Resolution1920 x 1080

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD 4400

Weight2.34 lbs                                                                                                        price;$1,249 

Sony Xperia Z5 vs Samsung Galaxy S6's :Best is...................

Sony Xperia Z5                                                                                                                                      The Xperia Z5 has a very reliable battery and the addition of Quick Charge 2.0 will allow you to top off the battery quickly for those days when you need a bit more oomph to make it through your day.The Sony Xperia Z5 looks good, has plenty of power, its camera can take some great snaps and it won't die when you spill your drink on it.5.2 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, IPS LCD... Color balance and accuracy, on the other hand, are areas where Sony should have tried a bit harder. The screen has a significant blue tint, taking some of the life away from images. It's not too bad, though, plus Sony is kind enough to let us adjust display color balance from the settings, meaning there's a way to get a more natural-toned image. Sony has to be congratulated for not playing the specs game and sticking with this resolution, because in no way is the Xperia Z5's screen harder to read, in comparison to the 1440 x 2560 screens out there. Sony needed to fix up the design of its Xperia Z series and there have been some big changes this time. It's still angular and glass-backed, but this time it's a frosted material instead of the clear glass we've seen on every iteration since the Xperia Z1.A lot of the problems that plagued the Xperia Z3+ stemmed from Sony's choice of components. It was powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810, a chip that notoriously ran hot. So, it might seem odd to layman that, on the surface, the Xperia Z5 looks to be using the exact same chip.

But the 810 in the Xperia Z5 is a slightly upgraded version that supposedly solves the overheating problems. From my time with the Xperia Z5 I'm not convinced this is the case.

During bouts of gaming, even with titles that I don’t class as graphically intense, the phone gets hot below the camera. The heating issue gets worse when I fire up Asphalt 8 or Lara Croft Go. I wouldn’t be as fussed if it was only a minor temperature hike, but the Z5 got hot to the point I hat to move by fingers on several occsaions. The phone even gets hot when playing Spotify, which is odd.

The other major problem with the Xperia Z3+ was that its 4K recording was basically unusable. Capturing footage for longer than a few minutes caused the device to spew up a worrying overheating message and then crash. Thankfully, this problem seems to have been fixed on the Z5.

As a test, I left the camera recording a 4K video for half an hour. Aside from eating though almost half of my available storage, it didn’t crash or make the phone hot. Discounting the gaming bits I mentioned earlier, performance and stability on the Z5 are great. Switching through apps is fast, Chrome never feels sluggish and lag is non-existent. It’s a great performer.

But, for a flagship device costing £539, packing a high-power processor and 3GB RAM, I expect this.

The powerful chip produces impressive benchmarking scores too. With a 4,720 result on the multi-core GeekBench 3 test it outmuscles the LG G4 (3,260) and HTC One M9 (3,952), but just falls short of toppling Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ (5,014). On AnTuTu, it scores 53,155, putting it above the Nexus 6 (51,855) and Moto X Style (51,350), but below the iPhone 6S (59,069).

To be completely honest, I’d still have preferred Sony to go with the Snapdragon 808. The small losses in performance are easily made up for by the better heat control.

You get 32GB of onboard storage, though this can be supplemented by a microSD card. These cards are about to get a whole lot more useful in Marshmallow, as the OS will let you use them for proper system storage.

The dual front-facing speakers are well positioned, but they fall into many of the same traps as other phones. Volume is loud enough, but audio is tinny and lacks any sort of oomph. It’s fine for YouTube, but not really for music.

BUT,The Xperia Z5 Premium hype seems to have done that to some degree, but 4K is still an issue when you realise the battery life isn't perfected, and you will need to shell out quite a bit of extra money to get it.Only minor updates from its predecessor means it lacks the excitement of its rivals. Its waterproofing no longer allows for full submersion, meaning it can't be used for underwater photography.

THE BOTTOM LINE The Z5 isn't as perfect as it should be, but it does have all the right parts.Even with strong specs befitting a high-end phone, the Sony Xperia Z5 adds little over its predecessor to make it an exciting option over rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.

 VS                                                                                                                                                      Samsung Galaxy S6's                                                                                                                     The new super-skinny build does mean that this Samsung gets very warm in use, however. Actually, not warm, it gets plain hot. Finger-burning hot. This is something that's becoming more and more common with today's increasingly thin smartphones, particularly those that have metal bodies. But I'm pleased to report that even when it's got a fever on performance doesn't appear to be affected.                                                                                                               The upscale Samsung Galaxy S6's smooth glass-and-matte-metal body, improved fingerprint reader, and convenient new camera shortcut key make the phone a stunner. Samsung's decluttered take on Android 5.0 brings the beauty inside, too.

BUT,Longtime fans will bristle at the Galaxy S6's nonremovable battery and absent expandable storage. The phone has an intensely reflective backing and looks embarrassingly like the iPhone 6. Battery life, while good, falls short of last year's Galaxy.

THE BOTTOM LINE Worldly looks and top-notch specs make the impressive, metal Samsung Galaxy S6 the Android phone to beat for 2015.

 Performance

Octa-core Exynos 7420 big.LITTLE Processor; Mali T760 GPU; 3GB RAM

The Galaxy S6 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop integrated with a newly streamlined version of TouchWiz and it’s incredibly snappy to use. One of the best features is the multi-window functionality – I used it frequently.

 Multi-window lets you open and use two apps simultaneously by holding down the option button or dragging from the top left corner of the screen. It’s great for writing an email while checking details online, or sharing posts from social media while talking about them with a friend on WhatsApp, for example.

Overall, the streamlined look and feel of the TouchWiz is a winner. We did experience a couple of instances where downloaded and native applications would randomly stop working, but we imagine this will be smoothed out fairly easily with updates.

TouchWiz gets a huge helping hand by the fact this is the most powerful smartphone on the market right now. Only the HTC One M9, with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, gets close to matching its performance.

 The credit goes to the 64-bit Samsung Exynos 7420 octa-core processor and 3GB RAM – it’s the first time Samsung has used this chip in a phone. It seems that switching away from Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon processor in its flagship phone has paid off handsomely.

The Exynos 7420 processor has an advantage over the powerful Snapdragon 810 processor used by the HTC One M9 because the chip is smaller and more energy efficient. You can read the software and performance sections of our Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review for a more detailed breakdown of how it compares to the competition, but needless to say the S6 impresses.

One of the best demonstrations of the Galaxy S6’s power is how smoothly it handles graphically intensive games like Real Racing 3 or Asphalt 8. There are no dropped frames whatsoever and the games are rendered better than we’ve seen on any other phone.                Battery life

 Battery life on the Samsung Galaxy S6. Now we get to the real issue of this phone. It's not good enough, and that's hugely frustrating.

Let me put this into context: it's as good as the HTC One M9 and iPhone 6 in terms of being able to last just about through the day. Given that last year we were seeing phones that could easily make it to bed time without running out of juice, it's maddening that Samsung, like others, has gone backwards here.

The reason is simple: the battery pack in the new S6 is smaller than last year, 2550mAh compared to 2800mAh. The reduction is there solely so Samsung could make a slimmer phone, focusing on design over functionality. And unlike previous years, the battery can no longer be removed, taking away one of the big things fans loved about the phones.                      Key Features: 5.1-inch 1440 x 2560 resolution screen; Octa-core Exynos 7420 chipset; Wireless Charging; 3GB RAM; 2,550mAh non-removable battery; Android 5.0 L with TouchWiz; Samsung Pay; IR Blaster

Manufacturer: Samsung

Microsoft Surface Pro vs Lenovo ThinkPad Twist vs Acer Iconia W510:Who is the best?

Microsoft Surface Pro                                                                                                                                     Making your mind up about the Surface Pro is less about what it is and what it does and more about what you want out of a tablet. As a hybrid PC it's an undeniable compromise - but that's no bad thing.The Microsoft Surface Pro fits a full ultrabook experience in a compact 10-inch tablet. Thanks to the ingenious Type and Touch covers, it offers a comfortable interface and typing experience. The clean, crisp design and sharp 1080p screen rise above the competition.

But, The battery life is disappointing, and more ports would be nice. The 64GB model barely has any free storage. It costs as much as a regular laptop, especially because the cool keyboard cover isn't included by default.

The bottom line: The Surface Pro's gutsy design successfully reinvents the Windows 8 laptop by cramming an ultrabook experience into the body of a 10-inch tablet. Those wanting to go all-in on the tablet experience won't regret buying the Surface Pro, but we're holding out for a future, more polished generation of the device.

Windows 8 Pro (64-bit); 1.7GHz IntelCore i5; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Sharedl) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Micron SSD   Specifications

Release date02/9/13

Display type10.6 inColor TFT active matrix - Yes

OSMicrosoft Windows 8 Pro

RAM4 GB

Processor3rd Gen Core i5Intel

Wireless connectivityIEEE 802.11nIEEE 802.11bIEEE 802.11aIEEE 802.11g

Dimensions (WxDxH)0.53 in10.8 in 6.8 in

Weight903 g                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Price;$899.99                                                                                                                                              VS                                                                                                                                                            Lenovo ThinkPad Twist                                                                                                                                  The ThinkPad Twist has great Lenovo construction, a responsive touch screen, and a center hinge for flipping into tablet mode, all for a very reasonable price.The Twist has an uncommon size 12.5-inch screen, and at 1.6 kg is heavy for an Ultrabook of this size, let alone a tablet that usually weighs much less than half that.The ThinkPad Twist has a third-generation Intel Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM (3.82GB usable), and a 500GB HDD spinning at 7200rpm alongside a 24GB SSD caching drive. The Twist also has built-in Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and a slot for a SIM card, for users who want to be connected.                              But, The screen accelerometer can have a mind of its own, flipping into portrait view randomly. Battery life is merely OK, and the screen resolution is low for a modern laptop/tablet convertible.                                              The bottom line: Slightly less conservative-feeling than the average ThinkPad, the well-made ThinkPad Twist offers one of the better tablet modes from the first wave of Windows 8 convertibles.

Windows 8 (64-bit); 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 7,200rpm                                                                                                                      Specifications

ProcessorIntel 3rd Gen Core i5i5-3317U / 1.7 GHz ( 2.6 GHz ) ( Dual-Core )

Memory4 GB

Hard Drive500 GB - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8English / MUI

Display Type12.5 in IPS

Max Resolution1366 x 768 ( HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 4000

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                         Price;$749.99 to $899.99                                                                                                                                VS                                                                                                                                                               Acer Iconia W510                                                                                                                                       The Acer Iconia W510 is less expensive than some other Atom-based hybrids, and its detachable tablet screen is light and portable.10.1-inch IPS screen, 1366 x 768; Dual-core 1.8GHz Atom, 2GB of RAM, 32/64GB SSD; 295 degree twist hinge turns keyboard into stand; Up to 18hrs battery life; Windows 8 convertible with keyboard dockThe Iconia W510 is so very portable. At 10.1-inches and weighing less than two pounds, it fits easily in a bag or large purse, and you'll likely forget you're even carrying it. Battery life is excellent.

But, In laptop mode, the system is awkwardly top-heavy, and the puny keyboard and touch pad are not designed for serious use.

The bottom line: Offering low-powered Intel Atom tablet/laptop hybrids for $750 or more is a dodgy proposition for budget-looking systems such as the Iconia W510, but all-day battery life is a great selling point.

Windows 8 Pro (32-bit); 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760; 2GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 747MB (Total) Intel GMA; 64GB SEM64G SSD                                                                                                                       Specifications

ProcessorIntel AtomZ2760 / 1.8 GHz ( Dual-Core )

Memory2 GB

Hard Drive64 GB

Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 8

Display Type10.1 in

Max Resolution1366 x 768 ( HD )

Graphics ProcessorIntel GMA 3650

Optical DriveNone                                                                                                                                           $694.99 to $899.99