MSI as a technology manufacturer was set up in August 1986 and has since established itself as an award winning customer oriented computer services entity. MSI’s specialty is primarily in motherboards, graphics cards, servers and workstations, IPC devices, laptops and car infotainment gadgets. MSI’s moniker is “Quality products create faithful customers” Let us examine MSI laptops.
MSI laptops come in the following main models:

• U100-013US
• U100-013US
• U100-279US
• U100-280US

MSI laptops combine sleek looks with technology and the machines have quickly moved to the forefront when it comes to notebook popularity in the business circles. This is because MSI  has invested in top-notch technology to power its laptops and deliver quality performance.

The laptops come with Intel Atom CPU processors buzzing at 1.6GHz. The operating system is a standard Windows Vista and some come with XP Home Edition. The display includes a 10’ WSVGA LCD with clear BrightView. The laptops are also ideal for graphics enthusiasts, movie watchers and gamers because they come with an Intel GMA950 graphics card for stunning visual displays.

MSI laptops deliver outstanding performance. This is courtesy of a system memory running at least 1GB DDR2 memory card which is expandable to 4GB. The hard drive constitutes of 160GB SATA 1 which is satisfactory by most standards.

The laptops are also equipped with 10/100 Ethernet card and a built-in 802.11b/g/n WLAN wireless card for Wi-Fi functionality. This allows MSI laptops to be ideal for mobile computing which is so essential in this day and age.

Asus laptops combine the latest in computer gadgetry with innovative design.  Asus leaped into competition with the best in the market, namely name brands like Toshiba and Lenovo in releasing the tablet PC which is very ideal for business and sales personnel.. The Asus brands that are available include:

• Asus Eee PC 1000H
• Asus Eee PC 900 Laptop
• Asus Eee PC 1000HE
• Asus Eee PC 1002HA
• Asus Eee PC 4G XP Laptop
• Asus Eee PC 1008HA Seashell
• Asus Eee PC Seashell 1005HA

As we mentioned, the laptops have a sleek innovative design with a big touch pad and silver accents for the keyboard. This gives the machines a futuristic appearance which registers well with younger users who are now demanding more accessories especially in the multimedia area.

Asus notebooks compete and compare with ther well-known brand names. They are thin (10 inch) almost feeling like a toy (the T91). The entire laptops measure approximately 9 inches wide and weigh about 2 pounds.  This is ideal for transportation.

Asus laptops employ the latest in touch-screen technology which can be alternated between two screens. The resolution is a cool 1024×600 and can also be tweaked to 800×600. It is so compact that some people have termed Asus laptops, oversized iphones.

When it comes to performance, Asus laptops come with an Intel Atom Z250 1.6GHz CPU processor, a 52 GB hard-drive, a SD card slot, two USB ports and wireless capability boasting 802.11b/g. Other features include an Ethernet port, 3-4 hour battery, mic capability and an in-built webcam.

Acer is one of the leading laptop manufacturers. Since its inception, the company has expanded aggressively throughout the world, cementing its foothold in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Acer laptops are a great bargain because they combine efficient technology with affordability making them the ideal computer for first time buyers and students.

As a company, Acer has rapidly adapted to the changes in the computer market. This means taking more notice of the target audience. Laptop buyers are now getting younger as their use becomes more dynamic. Acer has capitalized on this.

Acer laptops have the advantage of being compact yet agile. The typical unit has a 10 inch high resolution screen. The units also weight just a tenth of a pound making it very easy for the students to carry them in their backpacks.

Acer laptops are glossy and attractive with a shiny professional yet artistic design. The manufacturer has also started making colored laptops to cater to an increasingly younger audience.

Performance-wise, Acer laptops are ideal for most computer uses. The units come with a standard 2GB DDR RAM memory and 160GB hard-drive. Other features include a Memory stick slot and Wi-Fi card slot.

Acer laptops are also wireless enabled with 802.11b/g and Bluetooth radios. This allows for seamless wireless Internet capability. Other features include 1.6GHz Atom processor, GMA 500 graphics accelerator and 160GB hard drive. This allows Acer laptops to play high resolution DVDs, burn CDs and even perform multiple tasks requiring different programs.

Dell is one of the movers and shakers when it comes to laptops. The company has moved from almost total obscurity to become notably the best office computer manufacturer in the market. Initially the company’s strength lay in PC and PC accessories but with the world of mobile computing growing by leaps and bounds, investment has been made in the realm of laptops.

Dell laptops have quickly become a world favorite due to their sleek appearance and reliable performance. When it comes to appearance, Dell has made it possible for customers to customize the way their laptops look right from the Dell website. This has been a welcome feature especially for the younger media-crazy users who realize that they can even pick the exact color they want. The main Dell laptop brands are:

• Dell Latitude
• Dell Inspiron
• Dell XPS
• Dell Studio
• Dell Vostro

These have different specifications but most of the features are uniform across all models. Most come with a high-resolution tru-brite 10-17 inch monitors. The 4500MHD PC card graphics and expansion slot allows for high resolution graphics display and is ideal for gamers and DVD enthusiasts.

The processor speed is second to none, employing 2.00GHz Intel dual core processor made for Windows Visa Home and Professional Edition. Dell laptops perform at breathtaking speed owing to the 2.00 DDR2 SDRAM memory cards which come standard installed on all laptops. This can vary from laptop to laptop.

Dell laptops are ideal for businessmen, students and researchers. Recently, gamers and others doing multimedia sharing have taken a liking to Dell laptops.

HP (Hewlett Packard) is one of the leading computer and office equipment manufacturers in the world with a track record that is hard to beat. Recently, HP joined forces with the Houston-based Compaq to market a unique and new generation wave of computers and office accessories. The result of this union has been laptops that are extremely competitive.

HP laptops come in the following makes and models:

• HP Pavillion
• HP Mini
• HP Compaq Mobile Workstation

While there are other mid-sized brands, these are usually the most popular given information from product review guides and sales statistics. HP laptops are state of the art and combine professional looks with top-notch performance.

HP makes laptops for home use and professional use. The professional use workstations are equipped with standard features that make mobile computing a breeze for the traveling businessman and woman, the salesman, the researcher or the lecturer.

HP laptops come with an immaculate display that offers BriteView. The machines are equipped with a sound card. Collaboration with Altec Lansing, which makes some of the best audio speakers in the industry, has given HP laptops a competitive edge when it comes to sound and acoustics.  The laptops also come standard equipped with a microphone functionality.

The laptops also come with 3-6 hour 6-lithium cell battery. The display type is essentially 15.4 TFT BrightView monitor with 1280x800WXGA screen resolution.  HP laptops also come with a standard 3 high-speed USB ports , 1 mini microphone port , video-s output, card readers capable of supporting MultiMedia Card, SD memory card, Memory Stick and Flash memory cards. 3GB memory and DVD-R with Light Scribe.

The cut-throat competition in the laptop market has forced many manufacturers to become innovative and even up their game. This is because major players such Dell, HP/Compaq and Toshiba have made major leaps in the era of laptop technology .These technological innovations have been made in keeping with the target audience of younger more savvy users.

The average Fujitsu-Siemens laptop offers a plethora of features for the avid user. The brand has also delved into the tablet PC market in competition with such heavyweights such as Toshiba and Asus. The laptops come with a unique sleek appearance.

Performance is boosted by a 1.86 GHz Intel Celeron processors with a 1MB cache. The standard Fujitsu-Siemens laptops come with a standard impressive 1024MB memory capacity with the ability to upgrade to 2GB.

The hard drive is essentially 80GB SATA 5400 prm Hard Drive. This is considered mid-sized by current standards (many newer brands from other manufacturers come with 160GB). The display is impressive as well; a TFT LCD enhanced by a SIS Mirage 64-256 MB graphics card for maximum rendering.

For multimedia and Internet fans, the units come with a DVD-R with Writer Super capability, 56K in-built modem, an Ethernet connecting port and a LAN wireless capability with 802.11/a/b/g

Fujitsu-Siemens also equips its laptops with a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office and other necessary programs such as Roxio CD burner, and Windows Media Player. The laptops also come installed with Windows Vista Home Edition.

Lenovo, is a collaborative venture between IBM and Chinese computer-maker Legend which was also heavily influenced by IBM. The two have had a long fruitful relationship since Legend began making personal computers for the consumer market almost 20 years ago. Today, IBM has shipped over 100 million personal computers throughout the world and is not about to stop.

Lenovo offers value equipment that includes smart design and exceptional performance. This has been to where the brand name has become a major player in the global business laptop market. When people mention Lenovo in the business technology circles, it is generally accepted that this is where technology meets value.
The laptop maker designs notebook and ThinkPad laptops for home, school and office. These include all the latest features and technology geared to the tech-savvy businessman to the media-crazy teenager.

Lenovo laptops come with tremendous value for your money. Vibrant widescreen, advanced multimedia services, full-sized ergonomic keyboards not to mention worry-free security and connectivity. The machines are also stylishly-designed and ingeniously contoured.

When it comes to portability, Lenovo laptops are way ahead. They are sleek and stylish making them attractive to the tech-savvy teenagers to carry to school or college. The entertainment features include ultra-fast DVD player with LightScribe and Wi-Fi connectivity for access to the Internet while away from home.

Lenovo laptops CareSM tools come with great ThinkVantage technology solutions that increase and boost the laptop’s performance.  Other features include anti-virus and data recovery tools, tablets and touch screens, full-sized Trackpoint keyboards and energy efficiency.

Sony has been around for some time and the name brand is one that invokes trust. This is because Sony has long since been associated with the best in Japanese technological wizardry in the realms of entertainment. Their TVs, radios, transistors, movies and now computers have made a name for themselves. Sony laptops have taken the world by storm and have held their place even among the best. The classic Sony laptop is the VIAO which has been topping new limits in innovation every year.

Sony VIAO laptops come in many models but here are the predominant ones:

• Sony VAIO P688E/N Notebook
• Sony VAIO P688E/N Notebook
• Sony VAIO TT
• P Series
• W Series
• TT Series
• Z Series
• SR Series
• CS Series
• BZ Series
• FW Series

VIAO has topped the innovation bar. The company recently pioneered the world’s lightest notebook, the P Series, weighing slightly over a quarter of a pound but fully loaded with all the bells and whistles.

Sony laptops are also fully customizable. One of the best customizations is color. The brands now come in a series of colors geared to attract specific preferences. The laptops deliver affordability mixed with loads of accessories and features that make computing a delight.

Sony Laptops now come laden with the new Windows 7 which has been termed the best operating system in the world. Others come with Windows Vista. The laptops are also powered with a Lithium battery which has up to 4 hours of standby time.

Specifics include 2GB SDDRAM memory capsules, 1080p HD LCD screen brilliance, Intel Duo Core processor 2.0GHz and Wi-fi capability using 802.11/g/n wireless card.

When it comes to the realm of laptops, Toshiba is an authority. This is for the simple reason that the company was at the forefront of the laptop revolution together with the legendary electronics manufacturer Phillips. Buyers of Toshiba notebooks can therefore rest in the assurance that they are in good hands.

Toshiba laptops come in the following brands:

• Satellite (less than $600.00)
• Satellite Pro ($600-$800)
• Tecra- Lightweight but very high performance (around $1000 or more)
• Qosmio -Tablet PC. High performance ($1000-1500)
• Protege-High end computer for gaming purposes (costs over $2000)

Toshiba makes a wide array of laptops to cater for a large target market. You can see from the above models that Toshiba has tailored its marketing strategy after different segments of users. People with basic computing needs (those who simply want to surf the Internet, read the news and reply to their emails) would do well with the Satellite. This model is moderately priced and delivers an acceptable level of performance.

Toshiba also markets high-end laptops for graphics designers, programmers, visual directors and gamers. This segment of the market requires more memory, more processor speeds and higher performance due to running multiple high-level applications simultaneously.

Toshiba laptops come standard equipped with an Intel Celeron Processor 900 chip which may operate at 2.00GHz speeds. The machines also come laden with a genuine copy of Window 7 and Windows Vista Home Edition.

Performance is enhanced by a 1GB memory card which is expandable to 4GB for maximum performance. Toshiba also ships with 160GB hard-drive which is impressive even for today’s standards. Wireless capability is also built-in and operates via a 802.11b/g/n wireless card with Eternet ports.

Tablets PC’s have introduced a new concept into personal computing and that is, the ability to combine standard computer functions with actual handwritten notes. The PC allows this capability via a stylus application that is built into the machine. This is much like one would write on a regular piece of paper.

As the tablet PC technology evolves, we continue to see machines that can dabble as both laptops and tablet PCs. These come with a regular keyboard and functionality but also come with a monitor that rotates on a swivel. It can also be folded or rolled flat to resemble a regular notebook. There are some, like the slate laptops where the tranditional keyboard is completely missing and instead writing is achieved  via a touch-sensitive screen panel. These also make use of the stulys which works much in the same way as a regular pen.

The way the PC is able to recognize handwriting is via handwriting recognition software which comes bundled into the machine. One can also purchase additional plugins and scripts to enhance this functionality.

Slate tablet PCs are some of the most convenient machines around. This is because they can easily be folded to create even more space than a standard laptop. These also weigh no more than 3 pounds at most and are less than an inch thick making them the perfect choice for travellers.

These PCs are slightly pricier than their traditional counterparts. They retail for upwards of $1000 with more advanced models going for more than $2000. While they may have less ports and jacks than other PCs, all come with wi-fi capability. Tablet PC laptops surely will be very popular.