Let’s face it, few gifts are ever as awesome as a new computer and there are so many to choose from.
Here are Metro’s picks for computing goodness this holiday season:
LG R580 Notebook – $1,299
Sleek and loaded with the right features, LG’s R580 is a solid combination of performance, profile and price. Sporting Intel’s Core 2 Duo processor, 4 gigabytes of system memory and a powerful Nvidia GeForce 130M GT graphics card with 1 gigabyte of dedicated video memory, this lightweight and lean laptop is surprisingly capable in the entertainment department as well as making sure your heavyweight business presentations come to life. An LED backlight provides better viewing and saves power and the 15.6-inch widescreen is the right size to maintain portability without sacrificing visual quality.
Toshiba Qosmio X500 – $2,199
With the flood of new games getting released this season, you’re going to need some heavy computing power to make your headshots count and your friends jealous at LAN parties. Enter the Toshiba Qosmio, a monster of a system designed for hardcore gaming (and helping develop strong legs if you ever decide to carry it). With an 18.4-inch screen, new Intel Core i7 processor, a one-terabyte drive and Nvidia’s GeForce GTS 250M graphics card with 1 gigabyte of lightning-fast DDR5 memory under the hood, this thing really cooks and its heft will probably stop a real-life bullet to boot. A built-in Blu-Ray drive and HDTV connectivity make it just as fun in downtime.
Dell Adamo XPS – $1,999
Dell’s answer to the Macbook Air in both style and substance, the Adamo XPS is undoubtedly impressive. Less than a centimetre thick and encased in a sexy machined-aluminum chassis, this laptop aims for discerning users with big pockets. For comparison, this machine is about half the thickness of Apple’s already paper-thin Macbook Air. With a 13.4-inch screen and weighing barely three pounds, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a slimmer, tote-able computer. Cooler still, when opened the keyboard rises up for ergonomic typing and sports aluminum keycaps. Built-in wireless connectivity and Windows 7 as standard complete this very impressive offering.
Samsumg N120 Notebook – $429
Simple yet stylish, Samsung’s N120 is possibly the most natural-feeling mini-laptop out there. The large, raised keyboard is very easy to type on and the clean, single-tone design is classically attractive. With all the standard system elements you’d expect from a netbook packed into the small, thin case, the N120 sets a benchmark for good design and usability in the 10-inch laptop market.
Putting it on paper
Despite the digital world taking command of our lives, there’s no substitute for the portability and satisfying touch of paper when you want to keep something in hard copy, so here are our picks for printers this season:
Epson Artisan 810 All-in-one Printer – $299
A top-end printer with a plethora of creative modes, the Artisan offers some innovative and convenient options for printing. Unique features includes modes for creating colouring book pages and even for making personalized note paper using your own photos — now you can write memos on your favourite, hopefully tasteful, vacation photo. The printer also has a built-in Wi-Fi connection to let you print directly from any wireless source in your home including other computers or even your iPhone.
HP Photosmart A646 Compact Photo Printer – $179
Cute as a button yet still powerful and fun to use, HP’s little wonder lets you edit and print high-quality photos in a small, portable package. Create custom borders, photo captions and text using the 3.45-inch touch-screen and print directly from Bluetooth devices like mobile phones for printing on the go.
