Accessory Corner - Logitech G13 Gamepad

Gamepads are a great accessory for notebook users who are serious into their gaming, and in particular the first-person shooter crowd. Notebook keyboards themselves offer few conveniences that gamers crave - something many will have observed when compared to a desktop gaming experience.

The Logitech G13 Gamepad, on the other hand, can change a mundane notebook fragging experience into a totally awesome frag fest. Armed with a multifunction LCD display, mini-joystick and 22 fully-programmable backlit macro keys, this may just be the ideal complement to your gaming notebook.

The Shame File - Toshiba Qosmio X70 notebook

Regular readers here will notice I have somewhat of an attachment to Toshiba's Qosmio line of notebooks, not surprising since I've been a happy owner of a X305 since 2009. It's a fantastic gaming and productivity workhorse, never mind it's impressive audiophile underpinnings.

Of course, it's been a while since I looked at the X775 model, and Toshiba has in that time made not one but two refreshes. The latest Qosmio X70 offers up Intel's newest Core i7 Haswell quad core alongside nVidia's most recent GK106 silicon dubbed GTX770M. Does the solution impress? More important perhaps, what in the world would compel me to relegate Toshiba to my Shame File? Read on for the entire story!

Glamor Shots - Toshiba Qosmio X70 notebook

Once again I have the pleasure of looking at another one of Toshiba's flagship Qosmio notebooks here on lgpOnTheMove. The just-released X70 continues where the X875 model left off, offering the latest Intel Haswell quad-core processor along with a new mobile GPU and various other tweaks.

Go ahead and browse over the various images I have here, and make sure to come back next week for a very different kind of review!

First Impressions - Alienware M18x notebook

This review comes down as a first here at lgpOnTheMove for many reasons. It's my first look at Alienware. It's my first 18.4" notebook. It's my first exposure to Ivy Bridge + Kepler. And it's my first notebook priced above $3000. But more than all of those, it's the first time I have been so excited about getting my hands on a notebook since my review of the Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q708 - an impressive and very high-end 17" notebook that I would later go on to own and keep.

Granted, I'm still using my X305 even after 3 years, and am still very happy with it - as the saying goes, you DO get what you pay for. But is it just possible, given today's void in the high-end notebook space by the likes of HP and Toshiba, that something out there could pique even my specific interest and lay claim to the notebook performance crown? Alienware's 18.4" M18x is a veritable behemoth brimming with speed and power, alongside a feature set models from other manufacturers fail to even come close to. Has Dell done it's homework? Let's take a look!

Glamor Shots - Alienware M18x notebook

Thank the folks at Dell for making this happen, but I am FINALLY able to present here on lgpOnTheMove a laptop from Alienware! The 18.4" M18x R2 encompasses the pinnacle of what notebook builders in 2012 can create, in both features and unbridled performance. Commanding a starting MSRP of $1999, and going well north of $5000 fully loaded, this is a piece of mobile tech only those with deep pockets can ever realistically think about owning, never mind be able to appreciate it's potential.

As is always the case here on lgpOnTheMove, feel free to feast your eyes below on some high-resolution images of this impressive and expensive beast. If you like what you see here then you will want to stay tuned for the full review that goes live next week!

First Impressions - HP dm1-4170us notebook

It seems I owe my readers an apology of sorts as I'm not usually this late to the party. The good news is I have finally secured an 11.6" notebook sporting Intel's ULV Sandy Bridge. Released back in December of 2011, HP's Pavilion dm1-4170us is the spiritual successor to both the aging AMD Brazos and award-winning Nile-based dm1z I checked out first in 2010.

With netbooks in 2012 on the verge of extinction, ultrabooks stealing the limelight and slates flooding the consumer market, can die-hard netbook fans find refuge in the 11.6" form-factor? More relevant, can Intel's much-touted ULV parts deliver the goods and kick AMD to the curb? Read on to get my take on this latest ultra-portable.

Glamor Shots - HP dm1-4170us notebook

Finally, some new pics to share with you! It's been a long time coming for me to get my hands on a ULV Sandy Bridge notebook, but HP's 11.6" Pavilion dm1-4170us is definitely an interesting proposition, and well worth the wait. How well does it perform? Stay tuned next week for a full review here on lgpOnTheMove.

First Impressions - Toshiba Qosmio X775 notebook

It's been a long time since I last looked at a big 17" notebook, but this latest Toshiba Qosmio model warranted my undivided attention. There's a lot to like about the X775-3DV78, chief among them the nVidia GTX560M graphics, 1920x1080 120Hz display, an impeccable keyboard, and harman/kardon 2.1 speaker system. Looking for a notebook with some "attitude"? Keep reading to see what else this system can do.

Glamor Shots - Toshiba Qosmio X775 notebook

At last, some new Glamor Shots for you to peruse over - this time showing off my latest notebook acquisition, the Toshiba Qosmio X775-3DV78. This high-end 17" gaming notebook has some decent hardware under it's hood, and aims to continue where the X305 and X505 left off. Exactly how good is it? Stay tuned next week for a full review here on lgpOnTheMove.

Tech Tips - Gaming on the Atom N570

I've been carefully exploring over these last couple of weeks the many possibilities my HP 210 Mini netbook provides, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience. Intel's N570 dual-core Atom really is a decent performer. But working with applications and multimedia is only part of the picture. My testing has shown that, despite popular opinion, the N570 platform is adept at handling more than one 3D graphics title out there!

If you've been itching to get your hands on the smallest/lightest Windows device that will provide a decent casual gaming experience, or need a 10" netbook that can do more than just documents and spreadsheets, these gaming tips here should help turn a lackluster day into something decidedly more entertaining.

First Impressions - HP dm1z notebook

Regular readers of lgpOnTheMove will notice it's been a long time since my last detailed notebook review - shame on me you might say! Fortunately, I'm happy to have here today a very special and interesting notebook to look at. The HP Pavilion dm1z is the latest 11.6 inch notebook sporting the new "Premium Vision" Nile platform from AMD.

I was actually confused at first why HP labeled this unit as a notebook and not a netbook. As a direct competitor to Intel in the 11"-12" netbook space, however, I'm somewhat compelled to evaluate it against other Atom offerings. How does the AMD-powered dm1z stack up? Intel may have just received a major wake-up call!

Glamor Shots - HP dm1z notebook

EDITOR'S NOTE: Once again, I'm introducing yet another new feature here on my blog. The Glamor Shots section will feature all the photos and images of major products passing through lgpOnTheMove. All images you see here will resize to full-screen high-res originals.

Today I get to present you with exclusive Glamor Shots of the HP dm1z notebook featuring the latest AMD Nile platform. I've only been playing with it for a few days, but I'm already liking it very much. Stay tuned for a detailed review coming soon on lgpOnTheMove!

Say Hello to my Little Friend

For almost a year now, I've been actively hunting for a replacement for my trusted HP zd7000 notebook. This built-like-a-tank 17" workhorse has served me so very well over many years. Sadly, it has slowly been getting more and more problematic as well, especially during the last few months. Finally, two weeks ago, it gave up on me completely and just died.

I had to get a replacement notebook, I had to get one just as good, and I had to get one ASAP.

Off the Beaten Track #1 - 10 Reasons why Desktops Still Beat Notebooks

EDITOR'S NOTE: Back from my brief break, it's time to kick off the summer season at lgpOnTheMove with yet another new series here on my blog. In this segment, I focus the discussion AWAY from notebooks, for a welcome change.

Notebooks are inexpensive, notebooks are portable, notebooks can be used anywhere - is there anything notebooks today fail to excel at? For many folks notebooks have replaced desktops entirely. But don't dump that big, bad tower case just yet! As you will see, desktops still reign king for the few and the serious.

Second Take - HP dv4t CTO

Following my brief yet impressive experience with the budget HP dv4-1225dx notebook back in February, I wanted to revisit this model to see just what it was capable of in a more potent configuration. Welcome the new HP dv4t-1300 series CTO model, available directly from HP.

Tech Tips #1 - Choosing a great gaming notebook for 2009

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a new series of posts beginning in 2009 where I share with you my experience and knowledge, offering advice for notebook users on various topics of interest.

My review of the HP dv7 CTO notebook last month and my experience with the Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q708 one month earlier presented me with two very different notebooks. Both are very unique in appearance, offer some notable features, came fully loaded, approach gaming differently and are priced totally apart from each other.

And while both notebooks are indeed very good at what they do, the experience has left me with one burning question - just what does it take to make a great gaming notebook?

First Impressions - Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q708

Today I get to take you for a very special and detailed look at the latest Toshiba gaming notebook, the Qosmio X305-Q708. I was extremely eager to get my hands on this beast of a unit, so when the opportunity arose a few weeks ago, I could not say no.

First Impressions - Gateway P-7811FX

EDITORS NOTE - The following review and updates are from a series of forum comments/remarks posted by myself on another website. While reading, keep in mind that this post includes my review and my remarks at comments not shown here.

This is a review I posted on another forum. Since Gateway and Best Buy won't allow me to post this on their website (strange), I'll post it here:

These are my first impressions of the Gateway P-7811FX. After reading many rave reviews on several different websites and sources, my experiences may surprise some.