Alienware M17x

If price is no object and you want the best gaming laptop on the market, reviewers say the Alienware M17x is the one to get. This 17-inch notebook earns numerous accolades, including Editors' Choice awards from Laptop Magazine, ComputerShopper.com and PCMag.com. Reviewers are nearly unanimous in saying that the Alienware M17x offers the best gaming performance you can get in a laptop -- but only if you're willing to spend to get it. For 2010, the Alienware M17x has been refreshed with Intel's latest processors. The base model features a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU, but Intel Core i7 processors (*Est. $150 and up) are available as an upgrade option. Most reviewers test upgraded models that cost upwards of $4,000, complete with dual graphics cards, 8 GB of memory, a 1,920-by-1,200-pixel LCD display and a slot-loading Blu-ray drive. Reviewers generally say that serious gamers will want the upgrades to truly unlock the potential of this gaming laptop.

Reviewers haven't retested the Alienware M17x since this year's processor upgrade, but performance should be as good or even better. Based on previous testing, multiple reviewers rave that the Alienware gaming laptop is the fastest gaming notebook they've tested. There are two big drawbacks, however, and they may be deal-breakers for some gamers. The obvious one is that the Alienware M17x can be very expensive. It also weighs 11.68 pounds and has a battery life of less than two hours, so it's not for those who value portability. If cost and weight are a concern, the new Alienware M11x (*Est. $800 and up) weighs less than 5 pounds. It has excellent performance for a small laptop, but it can't match the performance of the Alienware M17x when it comes to playing demanding games.

There's no shortage of feedback on the Alienware M17x. Laptop Magazine, CNET, PCMag.com and PC World all conduct detailed testing on the M17x; reviewers at Laptop Magazine and PCMag.com provide especially comprehensive analysis. All of these sources rate the laptop. NotebookReview.com also provides a solid review. A post at HotHardware.com is helpful, but there's little analysis to accompany the pictures and testing graphics. All also look at it in configurations that are loaded with upgrades and cost substantially more than the base version.

Sony Vaio VPCZ114GX/S

Experts say the Sony Vaio VPCZ114GX/S (*Est. $2,100) is a top pick for business professionals and mainstream users who want a fast and portable laptop. It features a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-520M processor, 4 GB of memory, a high-resolution 13.1-inch display and both a 128 GB and a 64 GB solid-state drive (for 192 GB of storage in all). Other models in this Sony Vaio Z series laptop are also available. For example, the Sony Vaio VPCZ116GX/Sinfo (*Est. $2,300) replaces the dual solid-state drives with a single 256 GB solid-state drive, while the entry level Sony Vaio VPCZ1190X (*Est. $1,900) has only a single 128 GB solid-state drive. Otherwise, these Sony Vaio Z series laptops are essentially identical.

Testing shows that the Sony Vaio VPCZ114GX/S has excellent performance, and some reviewers say it's the fastest 13-inch laptop they've ever tested. The sleek design is stylish and portable, weighing only 3 pounds. The display is crisp and has excellent viewing angles, so you don't need to be sitting directly in front of the screen to get a good view. Reviewers are also impressed with the Vaio's graphics prowess. The Sony Vaio VPCZ114GX/S has discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 330M graphics, so it can handle casual gaming. Unfortunately, battery life is poor, lasting less than four hours during intensive use. If you only use the laptop for surfing the web or checking email, battery life can be stretched to five hours. Some reviewers also complain about the speakers, which they say lack volume and richness. If gaming is your primary reason for getting a laptop, the Alienware M17xinfo (*Est. $1,800 and up) is your best bet. That laptop is much heavier than the Sony Vaio VPCZ114GX/S, but it's the best laptop for handling intensive 3-D games.

A number of credible reviewers test and rate the Sony Vaio VPCZ114GX/S and other members of the Sony Vaio Z Series. The best coverage comes from Laptop Magazine, ComputerShopper.com and PCMag.com. These websites conduct extensive hands-on testing and compare the laptop to others in its category when appropriate. Useful reviews can also be found at CNET and Engadget.com.

Apple Needs to Expand Further in China , with caution

It's no secret that Apple is one of the few hottest companies in the world right now. Their products are praised around the globe, and they are declared as a leader in design and innovation.

So it makes sense that some smart financial folks on Wall Street have Apple pegged to do some serious damage in China, and I think they could dominate. However, I think they must be careful about how they do this, as expanding too fast could be dangerous.

That said, China is a gold mine for Apple; this is true for all companies. The country is developing quickly and dripping with opportunity, and if a brand isn't present in China, its future is certainly questionable (yup, we're talking about Google).

That brings us back to Apple.

There is a distinct correlation between Apple stores and Apple market share. Over the past seven years, Apple has opened over 120 stores, and, with that, their market share grew by several percentage points.

This correlation is even more apparent in Western Europe, where over 30 stores were opened and market share grew from 1.5% to 5% within a few years. While appearing insignificant, these numbers huge in terms of growth — this is why we have Apple constantly breaking new all-time highs on Wall Street.

Good for Europe and America, but how many stores should Apple plan for China? Well, I believe Apple should open 12 additional stores: one for each of China's largest cities to serve as a test of market interest. That would add up to 100,000,000 potential consumers in those 12 cities alone — that is around a third of the entire U.S. population. Apple would then have a pretty decent idea of where to expand next.

It should be noted, however, that Apple already has two stores in China: one in Beijing and one in Shanghai. Furthermore, the company has plans to open 25 stores throughout China within the next two years.

Unfortunately, I think that is a mistake. I would have been much happier if they cut that number in half, and the reason is that there are many uncertainties about the Chinese and American economies (both of which rely on each other so heavily). The threat of an economic failure is still apparent, and political struggles are growing in both countries as well.

With that in mind, if Apple turns out to be a hit, it could have a dramatic impact on the competition.

For example, Microsoft is already heavily embedded in China, yet Microsoft operates at a loss with in the country. The reasoning for this is that Microsoft has been unable to adapt to Chinese consumer and enterprise behavior.

Apple, on the other hand, is a much smaller company with a more distinct focus — consumer electronics, mobile, and computer technology — and with those specific niches, Apple can better target their products for Chinese consumption. This could allow Apple to build up in China slowly, and eventually expand with better a much better understanding of Chinese culture.

Either way, Apple has a golden opportunity here. China is the market that every company in the world wants to be invested in, and I think it is time for Apple to make its presence felt. That said, Apple should tread lightly at first, as the Chinese market is a tricky place — American companies are struggling to adjust. But if Apple properly adapts, it could make the Apple investors very happy and very rich.

Asus Eee PC 1001P Netbook is A looker

If there is one thing that is apparent with the latest netbook from Asus, it is that it is a looker. The Eee PC 10001P will be the company's flagship product in the netbook market, and the look alone warranted a dedicated article.

It features an impressive design while sporting the carbon fiber look (something that I personally enjoy seeing). Then, of course, it has all the other features a netbook would have.

It features a 10-inch screen, an Intel Atom N450 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a slew of other goodies that will empower you to compute while on the move.

A 3G version there will be, and — interestingly enough — there is also talk of a 4G version by Asus. O la la!

Want one? You just got to wait 'til May of this year, and you can have one. It will be available for $299 with Windows 7 Starter edition and $279 with Windows XP, so it won't break the bank either.