Lenovo ThinkPad T431s review: Gray flannel suit with a modern cut

Lenovo's ThinkPad T431s is a comfortable mix of old and new. Like past T-series laptops, it is first and foremost built for business and the wear and tear of daily use -- on and away from a desk. But, thanks to some careful tweaking, it's not stodgy and stuck in the past.
The processor and integrated graphics are a generation behind, so if having the latest components is necessary for your work this model wouldn't be the choice. That goes for discrete graphics, too; it's integrated or nothing for the T431s.
The value of the T431s comes from its updated design, its durable construction, and its security features. It's a laptop that will make most IT departments happy that you picked it, but it's got enough of a consumer notebook look and feel that you'll want to use it in your off time.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Design and features
True to its roots, the T431s is a basic black notebook. If you're looking for a "look at me" laptop, you're reading the wrong review. That doesn't mean it's boring or generic, just that it's simple and straightforward.
The lid is made from carbon fiber while the bottom is magnesium alloy, and inside is a roll cage protecting its components. And although the slim, lightweight body doesn't look particularly tough (it measures 13 inches wide by 8.9 inches deep by 0.8 inch thick and weighs 3.6 pounds), the T431s is capable of passing Mil-STD-810 testing for extreme temperature, pressure, dust, humidity, and vibration, and the keyboard is spill resistant. If you want a thin-and-light laptop that won't disintegrate when used outside of an office, airport lounge, or coffee shop, this should be on your short list.
Along with strong construction, you get security features that include Intel vPro technology with Anti-Theft protection (AT-p), data encryption via an optional Trusted Platform Module chip, and integrated fingerprint and Smart Card readers.

	Lenovo ThinkPad T431S	Samsung Series 5 Ultra NP540U	Toshiba Satellite U845T-S4165
Price	$1,049	$899	$1,099
Display size/resolution	14-inch, 1,600x900	13.3-inch, 1,366x768	14-inch, 1,366x768
PC CPU	1.9GHz Intel Core i5-3437U	1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U	1.8GHz Intel Core i5-3337U
PC memory	4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz	4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz	6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz
Graphics	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000
Storage	500GB 7,200rpm hard drive	500GB 5,400rpm hard drive	128GB SSD
Optical drive	None	None	None
Networking	802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0	802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0	802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0
Operating system	Windows 8 Pro	Windows 8	Windows 8

At first glance, given this laptop's base specs, you might think it's overpriced. Business laptops tend be a bit more expensive than consumer systems because they need to be more durable and more secure -- that costs money. When you consider all that you're getting with the T431s, it is appropriately priced. Still, it does cost more than similarly configured non-business laptops, so if you don't need extra security and strength, you'll want to look elsewhere.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

To go along with the updated body design, Lenovo tweaked its keyboard for Windows 8 and, more noticeably, the touch pad. The keyboard design remains the same as past T-series models, which is a very good thing. The base of the T431s doesn't taper toward the front like many ultrabooks' do, which means there's more room for key travel. Plus, the keys are higher above the keyboard deck. It's an excellent typing experience, especially after using so many keyboards that feel like you're typing on a flat surface instead of a keyboard.
What's new on the keyboard is that volume and mic controls are now integrated into the function keys instead of having dedicated controls for those features. Lenovo also added Windows 8-specific function keys for opening panes for settings, search, viewing open apps, and viewing all apps. Function keys can be easily locked and unlocked, too, for those who want traditional function keys. Also, pressing the Fn and spacebar key will turn on and off the keyboard's backlight, if you pay for that feature; my review laptop didn't have a backlight.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Without a touch screen, getting around Windows 8 is all done with the touch pad or the traditional Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint nestled between the G, H, and B keys. To give more room for multitouch gestures -- it supports more than 20 gestures -- Lenovo basically ditched the discrete TrackPoint buttons at the top of the touch pad. Instead, you get subtle bumps for the center scroll button and lines marking off the left and right TrackPoint buttons. For those used to having the discrete buttons, the feel is likely to be disappointing.
The rest of the touch-pad experience is good, though clicking did feel a bit mushy on my review system. Also, if you're the type to drag your palms when typing (I am), you'll want to crank up the PalmCheck sensitivity. Even then you might experience the occasional cursor jump.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The T431s has a 14-inch 1,600x900-pixel-resolution screen. It's a very good resolution for a screen this size: better than the basic 1,366x768-resolution screens on slightly less expensive models, but without the expense of a 1,920x1,080 panel that would seem a touch unnecessary on a midrange business system.
From head-on, the screen looks very good with nice color performance. It's also a matte screen, which, combined with its 250-nit brightness, is good enough to fight off the stray reflections you get from glossy screens. However, if you frequently have people huddled around your screen, they might find it very difficult to see what you're seeing. The poor viewing angles are particularly noticeable when watching movies or viewing graphics or photos; text is less of an issue.
Lastly, though I doubt it's a major consideration when purchasing a business laptop, the T431s' speakers are really pretty good or, at least, better than expected. For movies and music they're more than sufficient; voices sounded clear and full.
Connections, performance, and battery
Much like the updated touch pad, the T431s' data and networking features are a mix of legacy options business users need and modern connections to keep it current.
For example, on the left side you get an analog VGA output, but on the right you have a digital Mini DisplayPort.

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Microsoft Surface Pro review: Smart almost-laptop nearly gets it right

On February 9, the Surface gets another lease on life. This version, known as the Surface Pro, tackles head-on many of the complaints about the original Surface RT -- especially that model's compromised Windows RT operating system. The Surface Pro offers a full Windows 8 experience that works with older Windows software titles, packs a real Intel Core i5 processor, and boldly stuffs the entire PC experience into a sleek and appealing tablet body that's just a tad thicker and heavier than the RT version.
There's a lot to like here -- if not to love. While the Surface Pro isn't the first Windows 8 tablet, it may well be the best one to date, at least in terms of design. The magic here is in the details: the ingenious detachable keyboard cover and the included pressure-sensitive stylus both go a long way toward setting the Surface Pro apart from the other laptops, tablets, and hybrids we've seen so far.
Can the Surface Pro work as a real, everyday PC -- a task that rival iPads, Android tablets, and even those Windows RT models couldn't quite handle? For me, an initial skeptic, it can. You can color me impressed.
If you were skipping the Surface RT because you wanted "true" laptop power and performance, the Pro version is definitely the way to go.
But while it's undeniably more powerful, the Surface Pro makes trade-offs -- most notably, middling battery life, a heavier chassis, and a price tag that starts at $899. That hit on your wallet becomes closer to $1,200 if you go with the 128GB version (a necessity) and add the so-cool-you'll-want-it keyboard cover. And you can say goodbye to the free version of Microsoft Office that came with the Surface RT; Surface Pro buyers will need to spring for that, too.
I'm waiting for Microsoft to throw me a bone. The Surface Pro's best feature isn't even in the box; toss in the $129 Type Cover. Or give me Microsoft Office. Otherwise, I think I'm holding out for the inevitable Surface Pro 2 -- the one that will undoubtedly offer better battery life and a host of other upgrades. This version makes strides, but it's not the perfect laptop-killer yet.

Price as reviewed / starting price	$999 / $899
Processor	1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Memory	4GB, 1,600MHz DDR3
Hard drive	64GB SSD ($899), 128GB SSD ($999)
Chipset	Intel HM77
Graphics	Intel HD4000
Operating system	Windows 8
Dimensions (WD)	10.8x6.8 inches
Height	0.53 inch
Screen size (diagonal)	10.6 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	2 pounds / 2.6 pounds
Category	Ultraportable / Hybrid

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Design: Boxy-sexy-cool
Microsoft has done something right with the Surface Pro's overall design: everything works exactly as advertised, and with an extremely elegant, bordering on beautiful, sense of design. The industrial magnesium chassis of the Surface Pro feels solid but isn't too heavy to hold in one hand. One notable difference between it and the slightly thinner RT version of the Surface is a hairline wraparound vent on the rear that works with internal fans to keep the more powerful CPU running smoothly.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

At 2 pounds, the Surface Pro weighs less than a regular ultrabook, and at 10.81 inches by 6.81 inches by 0.53 inch, it's more compact. But it's bigger than your average tablet, and weighs more, too. It feels like a larger iPad decked out in a fat suit. In fact, it still feels more like a super slimmed-down laptop than a regular tablet, especially with the Type or Touch Cover attached.

The Surface Pro on top of the HP Envy x2 tablet/laptop.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The closest equivalent we've reviewed was the Acer Iconia W700, a nearly identical tablet in terms of specs. The Iconia is longer and wider and has an 11.6-inch screen; the Surface Pro's is 10.6 inches.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Made of the same "VaporMG" magnesium as the Surface RT, it feels even better than it looks, which -- despite being cleanly honed -- is a little boxy.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The Surface Pro tips the scales at 2 pounds even; add half a pound for one of the keyboard covers, and another 0.6 pound for the AC adapter and cord. That's heavier than the Surface RT and iPad (both around 1.5 pounds), but lighter than most laptops, even with the keyboard case in tow.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

If there's any ergonomic complaint I can level at the Surface, it's the angle of the tablet in kickstand mode when sitting at a desk and using the small kickstand flap that folds out to form the back of the system. The angle is not adjustable, and while it works fine with the Type Cover attached, I would prefer it angled up a bit more. I found myself hunching over to get to a perfect angle.
Display
The 10.6-inch display is small, especially for a full Windows laptop, but it's crisp and bright and has a full 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution. I found myself able to work on it easily, but I could also see that you'd want to plug in a monitor for all-day use. The good news is that the Surface Pro supports up to 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution on an external display. Even if you didn't use another monitor, the Surface's IPS display is one of the best I've ever seen on a small Windows computer. Capacitive multitouch feels buttery-smooth. That's the magic that made the iPhone and iPad so fun to use. The Surface Pro, in painting programs and a few other apps I tried, felt comfortable to navigate. It's not quite as brilliant as the iPad's Retina Display, but it feels like it's getting spiritually close.
You can connect the Surface to a larger monitor easily; many will. A built-in Mini DisplayPort carries audio and video, and with adapters (sold separately) you can switch over to VGA or HDMI if needed. Working in multimonitor mode operated exactly the same as you'd expect on a Windows PC. It took some fiddling to get window sizing just right, but I found that working on my desk with the innocuous Surface on the side of my monitor as a PC-slash-second-screen was a bit of a treat.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Type Cover, Touch Cover: Killer accessories, neither included
Nearly this entire review has been written on the Surface Pro, using a combination of Type and Touch covers. The $130 Type Cover has an actual keyboard with depressible keys, whereas the $120 Touch Cover is a membrane keyboard. They both weigh about half a pound, and double as screen covers for the Surface.
The Type Cover keyboard feels wonderful, easy to bang away on, and largely responsive. The Touch Cover...well, not quite as much. It's usable, however. The key spacing on the Touch Cover is identical, and as long as you can get used to the lack of actual key motion and give in to tapping away lightly on what amounts to raised polyurethane squares, then it can work -- even with touch typing.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The Type Cover has a real but tiny honest-to-goodness multitouch touch pad with lower click zones; the Touch Cover's touch pad has "clickable" areas delineated below the touch-pad space with cut-out grooved lines. The Touch Cover is fun (it's available in multiple colors), but the real keyboard on the Type Cover only costs $10 more.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

I can't say enough good things about the Type Cover keyboard -- if I were reviewing it separately, it would get an Editors' Choice hands-down. It attaches magnetically and seamlessly to the Surface Pro's bottom. It forms a pretty attractive cover along the lines of Apple's own (keyboardless) Smart Cover, but with the addition of that Surface-powered keyboard-touch-pad combo that doesn't noticeably drain battery life at all.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

And, yes, it forms a strong enough bond to dangle the Surface Pro upside down, but I wouldn't try this at home over a concrete floor.
Working with the included touch pad gets the job done, but you can just as easily use the Surface's touch screen -- or add a Bluetooth or USB mouse or touch pad. I used the Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse that Microsoft included with this review unit. It's expensive but small enough, and it pairs nicely with the Surface.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Surface Pen
The Surface Pro supports pressure-sensitive styli, and the Surface Pro comes with its own Surface Pen that magnetically attaches to the power connector to hold it in place when you're on the go. Writing and sketching felt natural, and the pen worked far more responsively than a capacitive iPad stylus (the technology's different).

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Using a few basic drawing apps from the Windows Store, it all worked easily enough for my 4-year-old son and myself to enjoy.

(Credit: Scott Stein/CNET)

The "fun factor" is definitely present in the Surface Pro, but there isn't the incredible level of tablet-friendly app support that iOS and Android enjoy. You can run legacy Windows applications on the Surface to your heart's content, but those won't be nearly as touch-friendly.
Speakers, cameras
 Audio, conveyed through built-in stereo speakers, sounds adequate but not spectacular. It's better than you'd expect out of a machine this small.

Source: CNET

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Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13: A full-time laptop meets a part-time tablet

The biggest hardware trend marking the launch of Windows 8 is the proliferation of touch-screen laptop/tablet hybrids. Some have screens that pull apart to become separate tablets, while others have screens that flip, twist, or rotate to give you a tabletlike shape to hold. We call those latter models convertible laptops, and one of the best examples to date is the new Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13.
The name Yoga is suggestive of the system's big selling point, that the display flips fully over to become a tablet. In fact, it has four basic usable positions -- clamshell laptop, tablet, stand, and tent.
The reason the Yoga stands out from the suddenly crowded touch-screen laptop scene is that it does something other convertible or hybrid laptops do not. When set up as a traditional laptop, the 13.3-inch Yoga doesn't compromise the all-important clamshell experience. The excellent double-hinge design means that it looks and works the same as any other ultrabook laptop, unlike the complex and often clunky mechanisms in systems such as the HP Envy x2, Sony Vaio Duo 11, or Dell XPS 12.

The Yoga works best as a full-time laptop and part-time tablet, because when it's folded back into a slate, you still have the keyboard pointing out from the back of the system. Although the keyboard and touch pad are deactivated in this mode, it's still not ideal. Plus, despite the hype, Windows 8 is still not a 100-percent tablet-friendly OS, and there are some frustrations that span all the Windows 8 tablet-style devices we've tested.
The Yoga certainly seems to be everyone's choice for a great Windows 8 ambassador -- both Microsoft and Intel have touted it as a best-in-class example, and Best Buy is currently featuring it in a television ad. At $1,099, you're paying a bit of a premium, but not outrageously so, for an Intel Core i5/8GB RAM/128GB solid-state drive (SSD) configuration (note that our early review unit had only 4GB of RAM installed), but a less expensive Core i3 version starts at $999. If I had to pick a single first-wave Windows 8 convertible touch-screen laptop, the Yoga would be at the top of my list.

Price as reviewed / starting price	$1,099 / $999
Processor	1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Memory	4GB, 1,600MHz DDR3
Hard drive	500GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Intel HM77
Graphics	Intel HD 4000
Operating system	Windows 8
Dimensions (WD)	13.1x8.9 inches
Height	0.67 inch
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
Category	13-inch

Design, features, and display
Despite its reputation as a maker of buttoned-down business laptops, Lenovo can always be counted on to produce intriguing designs. Most of those end up, like the Yoga, as part of the company's consumer-targeted IdeaPad line of products.
We've seen similar attempts at laptops that can double as tablets over the years, usually with a rotating center hinge that swivels around to let the device change forms (or more recently with a screen that slides down over the keyboard). Before Windows 8, most of these experiments weren't particularly successful, thanks to a combination of poor design, underpowered components, and an operating system that wasn't touch-friendly.
The other problem with those traditional convertibles has been that the single rotating center hinge was a potential weak point in the design. Lenovo says the Yoga's full-length hinge has been rigorously tested and is stronger than the older rotating convertible design, and in practice that definitely seems to be the case.
When opened into its clamshell position, the Yoga would be tough to pick out of a lineup of recent ultrabooks. The minimalist interior is dominated by a large buttonless clickpad, along with a island-style Lenovo keyboard, which means the flat-topped keys have a small curve along their bottom edges for easier typing.

As good as Lenovo's reputation is for excellent keyboards, I had a surprising amount of trouble with the Yoga's keyboard. I narrowed most of my issues down to the half-size right Shift key, which meant I often hit the up arrow when aiming for Shift. The end result was a lot of frustration and retyping, but after a few days one would naturally adjust to this specific layout. The touch pad is the same as you'd find in other clickpad Lenovos, including the recent high-end X1 Carbon. It offers plenty of space for multifinger gestures, but isn't as effective for manipulating the touch-centric Windows 8 UI as a finger would be.
When you flip the Yoga's screen back, the physical keyboard doesn't disappear from view, as it does on most other convertible laptop/tablet combos, but it does get automatically disabled. A slightly raised layer of leather over the wrist rest and keyboard tray lets you rest the tablet on a table, keyboard-side down, without worrying too much about damaging the keys. Some buttons have been moved to the sides so they can be accessed no matter how the system is folded, and the outer shell has a soft-touch coating for easy gripping. While the Yoga isn't particularly comfortable to hold in tablet form, as your fingers are pressing up against the exposed keyboard and the touch pad, you do get easy access to a volume rocker along one edge and a rotation lock button along the other.
Beyond the slate mode, I especially liked the stand or sharing mode, where the screen is folded back 270 degrees or more, turning the system into something like a small touch-screen kiosk. It's great for sharing video or presentations in a group setting, or for just getting closer to the screen while keeping the keyboard out of the way.

Its fourth position is standing upright like a tent, but I can't think of too many reasons you'd want that.
In any of these positions, the Yoga is well-served by its 13.3-inch display, which has a native resolution of 1,600x900 pixels. That's arguably the perfect resolution for a 13-inch laptop, giving you plenty of screen real estate without making onscreen text appear too small, as can happen with 1,920x1,080-pixel resolutions on smaller systems. Off-axis viewing angles are great, and unlike with some Windows 8 convertibles stuck with 1,366x768-pixel screen resolutions, you don't feel like you're paying a premium price for a substandard feature.

	Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13	Average for category [13-inch]
Video	HDMI	HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, combo headphone/microphone jack	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, SD card reader	2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	None	DVD burner

Connectivity, performance, and battery life
Even for an ultrabook, this is not among the most connected laptops you'll find. There's a pair of USB ports, one 3.0, one 2.0, and it has an HDMI port, a combo audio jack, and an SD card slot. The lack of built-in Ethernet is understandable, but this is the first laptop in a long while I've seen with only one USB 3.0 port.

Source: CNET

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Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station review: Speedy and elegant home Wi-Fi router

Apple's new sixth-generation AirPort Extreme Base Station is essentially the new AirPort Time Capsule minus the internal storage. In fact without the storage, the two devices -- for the first time since the debut of Apple's AirPort base stations -- are identical.
The new true dual-band Wi-Fi router is now more compact, and prettier than the previous generation. It also supports the much anticipated -- and much faster -- 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The device's functions, features, and port offerings, however, remain the same as its predecessor's.
On one hand, the new AirPort Extreme proved in my testing to be one of the fastest and most reliable Wi-Fi routers to date. On the other, I wish it had more features to offer, such as common networking customizations, and -- when coupled with an external hard drive -- support for Time Machine backup and media streaming.
That said, for those who care about the look, the new AirPort Extreme is beautiful enough to justify the $199 price tag that makes it slightly more expensive than its peers. If you have 802.11ac-enabled devices, such as the new MacBook Air, you'll also love this new device's Wi-Fi speed. Otherwise, there's no need to upgrade if you already have the previous model. Don't forget to check out the alternatives on this list for more networking options and features.

The new AirPort Extreme Base Station has the same footprint as the AirPort Express (bottom), but is much taller. Note the AirPlay audio port on the AirPort Express that the AirPort Extreme doesn't have

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

Totally new design, same ports, familiar setup process
Like the new Time Capsule, the new AirPort Extreme has a completely new design. Instead of the traditional squarish tile shape that's been used for years, it now looks like a rectangular tube standing 6.6 inches tall and 3.85 inches wide. This means it has the same footprint as the second-generation AirPort Express, which came out last year, but it's much taller. Overall the new router has an elegant appearance, more like a jewelry box than a networking device.
On the front, there's a tiny status light that glows green when all is working well and either flashes or changes to amber to indicate that the device needs attention.

On the back, there are the usual three Gigabit LAN ports (to connect wired clients, such as a Mac Pro), and one Gigabit WAN port (to connect to an Internet source, such as a broadband modem). There's also a USB 2.0 port to host an external hard drive or a printer. This port configuration is exactly the same as found in previous generations of the AirPort Extreme and is disappointing since most routers on the market now have four LAN ports and many already offer USB 3.0. The number of LAN ports determines how many wired clients the router can support out of the box, before you need to resort to a switch. And obviously, USB 3.0 offers better performance when you connect an external hard drive to the router.
Like the new Time Capsule, the new AirPort Extreme doesn't support AirPlay, either. For that, you need to get the AirPort Express, which is, for now, still the only router that supports this music playback feature of Apple's.

The AirPort Extreme requires the AirPort Utility software, screenshot here from a Windows version, for initial setup and ongoing management.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

If you have owned an AirPort device before, setting up the new AirPort Extreme is a familiar process, but first-time users shouldn't have a problem, either. You need to have the AirPort Utility software, available for Macs, Windows, and iOS, to get the job done. In most cases, the software is already on a Mac, but if not you can easily download it for free. AirPort Utility makes the setup very simple and self-explanatory.
On the downside, AirPort Utility doesn't offer the same depth of customization and features. That said, the new AirPort Extreme has no more features than its predecessor, and just a handful of them.
A powerful Wi-Fi router that's weak on customization and storage support
The new AirPort Extreme is a true dual-band router, offering Wi-Fi coverage on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands at the same time. This means it supports all existing Wi-Fi clients, regardless of their Wi-Fi standard, with the top possible speed. The router supports the current top tier (three-stream) of both the new 802.11ac and 802.11n (Wireless-N) standards. When used with a 802.11ac-enabled client, such as the new MacBook Air, it can accommodate up to 1.3Gbps data speed. Wireless-N clients can be connected at 450Mbps on either band.
Note that these are the ceiling speeds of the respective standards. In real-world use, actual sustained Wi-Fi speeds fluctuate a great deal and are generally much lower than the cap speeds. Nonetheless, support for higher tiers always means faster speeds. (Read more about Wi-Fi standards here.)

It can be quite a task to find out and type in the MAC address in case you want to add a device to a special list.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)

The AirPort Extreme offers a set of features common in routers, such as guest networking (only on the 2.4GHz band), IPv6, port forwarding, DynDNS, Access Control, and print-serving and file-sharing capabilities. It lacks many features you might expect given its cost, such as QoS customization for traffic prioritizing, Parent Control, VPN server, and so forth.
And even for what it can do, the AirPort Extreme is a lot less flexible than others. For example, while you can block access to the Internet using a connected client's MAC address, you can't set up Web filtering in case you want to block based on keyword, Web services, or a specific Web site. It's also quite hard to add a device to the block list, or assign a fixed IP address to it, because in most cases you need to determine its MAC address and type it in manually.

Source: CNET

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Sony Vaio Pro 13 Touch review: So light. So small. So good.

Not everyone wants to buy an Apple laptop, but serious Windows 8 competitors to the MacBook Air have been few and far between.
When Windows 8 systems started rolling out last year, it seemed like PC manufacturers spent all their efforts trying to make some sort of hybrid or convertible laptop. For their regular clamshell notebooks, the most they did was install Windows 8 and put in a touch screen.
But, based on the Sony Vaio Pro 13 Touch ultrabook (and its smaller linemate, the Vaio Pro 11), it looks like the wait for some interesting ultrabooks might be over thanks to the launch of Intel's fourth-gen Core i-series processors.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The carbon-fiber-constructed Pro 13 weighs only 2.34 pounds; it's 2.9 pounds with its power supply, which is as much as the 13-inch MacBook Air weighs on its own. The body measures 12.7 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep, which is fractionally smaller than the Air, and matches its 0.68-inch thickness.
If you don't dive deeper than base specs, the 13-inch Air and Pro 13 Touch match each other fairly closely. It's once you look at the Sony's fine details, you'll uncover differences, and in a game of specsmanship, the Sony wins. Still, in the end, they're both excellent laptops and it comes down to what you like and what you want to have.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Design and features
The Vaio Pro 13 Touch is just barely bigger than its 11.6-inch linemate. Both are remarkably slim, small, and lightweight and, basically, what you probably pictured something called an "ultrabook" should look like. The carbon fiber construction might not feel as solid as an aluminum chassis, but it still seems like it can stand up to the rigors of a daily commute.

The Vaio Pro 13 Touch next to the 13-inch MacBook Air.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Open up the lid and the back of the laptop lifts up, giving a more comfortable typing angle. The backlit keys are generously sized and spaced, so even sloppy typists like myself should have no problems typing reasonably fast. The deck is shallow, though, so there isn't a lot of key travel -- there's just nowhere for the keys to go. There is a tiny amount of flex when typing (it was more noticeable on the Pro 11), but unless you're really pressing on the keys you probably won't notice.
The clickpad is nice: responsive without being jumpy, and with good multitouch support. It's fairly large, too, so two- and three-finger gestures are easy. Besides, you can always use the screen to get around.

	Sony Vaio Pro 13	MacBook Air 13-inch (June 2013)
Base price	$1,249	$1,099
Display size/resolution	13.3-inch, 1,920x1,080 touch screen	13.3-inch, 1,440x900 screen
PC CPU	1.6GHz Intel Core i5-4200U	1.3GHz Intel Core i5-4250U
PC memory	4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz	4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz
Graphics	1,659MB Intel HD Graphics 4400	1,024MB Intel HD Graphics 5000
Storage	128GB PCIe SSD	128GB PCIe SSD
Optical drive	None	None
Networking	802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC	802.11a/c wireless, Bluetooth 4.0
Operating system	Windows 8 (64-bit)	OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.4

The glossy 10-point touch LCD uses Sony's Triluminos Display for Mobile technology, which is similar to what you'll find in Sony's high-end LCD TVs. Sony also says the computer has X-Reality for Mobile technology that improves video quality. Regardless of technologies, the screen is really nice for viewing movies and photos.
Its native resolution is 1,920x1,080 pixels and it does use IPS technology, giving it wide viewing angles on the sides, top, and bottom. Text is nice and sharp, and the 13.3-inch size is definitely more comfortable to work on than the Pro 11's 11.6-inch LCD. Touch does come in handy on a screen this size, though, allowing you to easily drag windows and files around on the desktop.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Lastly, Sony includes some mode options for color: Vivid for viewing photos and movies, Natural for, um, natural colors, and Text to make it easier to view things like e-books.
Above the screen is a 1-megapixel Webcam that uses one of Sony's Exmor R backside-illuminated CMOS sensors, which should be better for low-light video. It isn't, so we still recommend having as much light as possible for the best results. Or even just good results. The camera can be used for gesture controls such as turning the volume up or down or going back to a previous Web page in a browser. For the most part, it's more trouble than its worth, but we did like being able to increase the volume on our music from a couple of feet away.
If you like to listen to movies or music without headphones, the Pro 13 doesn't give you anything to get too excited about. The tiny speakers can get reasonably loud without distortion; however, that's the best thing we can say about them. You're probably going to want to use headphones or external speakers for an enjoyable experience.

	Sony Vaio Pro 13	Average for category [13-inch]
Video	HDMI; Intel WiDi-ready	VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jack	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 3.0, SD card reader	2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, SD card reader
Networking	Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi, NFC	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	None	None

As thin as it is, there's not much room for ports, but you do get two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI, an SD card slot, and a mic/headphone jack -- all on the right side. Wireless options comprise Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11n Wi-Fi, NFC, and an updated version of Intel Wireless Display (WiDi). Also, Sony put a USB port in the side of the Pro 13's power supply, giving you a place to charge a mobile device without tying up one of the laptop's USB 3.0 ports.

Source: CNET

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Opera 16 Next is out

Opera Software, just like Google or Mozilla, decided to make available three different Opera release channels to provide developers and enthusiasts with options to test new features before they reach the stable build, and get some data and bug reports from the community in return.
We are currently still waiting for Opera Dev to be released, while both stable and next builds of the browser are already available. Opera Dev will be what Chrome Dev is for the Chrome browser, and Aurora for Firefox. It won't be like Firefox Nightly though which may get updates several times a day depending on how active Mozilla is.
For now, Opera Next is the cutting edge version of the Opera browser, and it is this browser that got upgraded to version 16 today. This would not really be important but it is the first release with a 16 in front, which makes it somewhat special.
The release is not officially announced yet and it is not clear if it ever will be. If you are running Opera Next, you may receive it via auto-update. If you do not want to wait that long, you can head over to the Opera ftp server and download it from there.
Note: There is no "check for updates" feature built-into Opera (yet). What this means is that you will get the update when it is your turn to get it. The only way to speed things up is to download the latest version manually and install it. The reason behind this apparently is to avoid the servers being hammered by user requests.
A change log has not been posted (yet) and you will be hard pressed finding any changes to previous versions of the browser. There is one that I was able to find out about, but it is not the long awaited bookmarking feature or other features of Opera 12.x that are still missing in Opera 16.
You can enter opera:flags into the address bar to display experimental features that you may enable or disable here. This is similar to Chrome's experimental flag (chrome:flags).

It allows you to enable several interesting features, including:

1. Synchronization (it is not clear how enabling this differs from the sync feature that is build into Opera)
2. Enable Download Resumption which adds a context menu to Opera to continue or restart interrupted downloads.
3. Enable extensions to run on opera:// urls.
4. Disable hyperlink auditing (pinging).
5. Smooth scrolling (Windows only).
6. Enable Opus and VP8 playback in video elements.

There are 56 experiments in total listed on the page, of which some may not be available for the platform you are using. For Opera Next on Windows 7, 53 of the 56 were available while three were not. Changes take effect after a restart of the browser.
Opera Next is a beta version that is still in development. It is very likely that we will see the missing bookmarking capabilities land in Opera 16 before it reaches stable status. (via Deskmodder)
Update: The official announcement has been posted on the desktop team blog. The release includes a number of changes according to it:

• W3C Geolocation API support.
• Form auto-filling.
• Jump List support on Windows 7 and 8.
• Presentation Mode support on Mac OS X.
• Based on Chromium 29.

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