Juice it Up

But the S series is not just about weight,it is also about performance. The laptops feature a second-generation Intel Core i7 processor and AMD Radeon HD 6630M GPU with 1GB dedicated VRAM. It also has the capability of switching between Speed and Stamina modes the former for maximum power while multitasking or running heavier applications and the latter to conserve energy and extend battery life for light computing. The switch can be done with toggle buttons below the screen and without rebooting.

The laptops come with three extra buttons above the keypad,which give single-touch access to frequently used programmes. The Vaio button takes you to the media gallery,the Assist buttons to Sony Care maintenance software and the Web button logs you directly to the Net. The backlit keypad is very spacious and responsive though there is no multi-touch option available.

The high-end S series laptops with solid-state drives come with the quickboot option,which starts the computer in just 17 seconds,a full second ahead of the Chrome and

Android notebooks.

The S series features Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit,LED backlit display,4GB RAM,500GB HDD,CD/DVD player/burner,AMD graphics (512MB VRAM) and HDMI for playing videos on a large screen. Prices start at Rs 56,990 and go up to Rs 1,09,900 without the extended battery.

The Big Factor

Buying a laptop often means making compromises,as affordable laptops are usually smaller and slower than we would like. Samsung tries to change this with its new NP-RV511-A01N,a heavy-duty laptop that doesnt cost the earth.

For starters,the RV511 has a 15.6-inch LED-Backlit HD Display,not something you would find in a laptop in this price range. Then,there is a full-fledged keyboard,one with a number pad,which is as rare in laptops these days as cheetahs in Indian grasslands. The keys are very comfortable and have a rubbery feel. The touchpad has left-right keys,but no multi-touch.

The laptop runs on a state-of-the-art Intel Core i3 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology,which uses the processor resources more efficiently. It will render graphics better and allows you to run demanding applications simultaneously. The SRS surround speakers ensure great sound,and coupled with the large screen,the laptop becomes ideal for watching movies.

Despite all this heavy-duty work,the laptop works wonders with power management. It can go to sleep if you just close the laptop,and comes back to life in only three seconds. When you power it back on,the laptop restarts at the same point you left it,thanks to Fast Start,which saves data and system configurations to the hard drive and PC memory. The laptop is a tad too heavy at 2.4 kg,and with the 15.6-inch screen,is a bit bulky too. It comes with Windows Home Premium,expandable 4GB DDR3 System Memory and 500GB Hard Drive Capacity. The greatest feature,however,is the price tag of Rs 34,490.