Wireless Internet has become the standard method of connecting to the Internet on a laptop. Most public places which offer free Internet only offer free Wifi – wired Ethernet connections usually are not available. Wifi’s popularity is great, but it doesn’t help those who have older laptops without Wifi or laptops with Wifi which is broken or not functioning well.

Those who have such laptops often wonder how they can add Wifi to their laptop. The process is in fact very easy, and only requires the addition of a piece of hardware.

Purchasing a Wifi Adapter

In order to enable Wifi on a laptop without wireless Internet a wireless adapter is needed. The term wireless adapater is a broad term which describes any piece of hardware which enables wireless. Since your laptop does not have an internal wireless adapter, you’ll need to buy an external one.

There are two primary types of external wireless adapters – USB and PCI. So which one is best?

That depends. USB wireless adapters connect via USB ports and are generally very easy to use. Many are plug and play to such an extent that no drivers need to be installed, although installing drivers is helpful. These devices are also small and easy to store, making them ideal for situations where a wireless adapter does not always need to be plugged in. The downside to USB adapters is that they take up USB ports, which are not also plentiful on the older laptops which don’t have an internal wireless adapter. They can also be cumbersome, as they usually stick out from the side the laptop.

PCI adapters slide into PCI expansion slots on the side of the laptop. They’re usually not as plug and play as USB adapters, so driver installation is recommended. They’re also much larger than most USB adapters, which means storing them in a bag or backpack isn’t not as easy. However, PCI wireless adapters don’t take up precious USB ports, and when installed most of the adapter is actually inside the laptop. This means that PCI adapters are less obstrusive. Most users of PCI adapters install them once and leave them installed for the life of the laptop.

Installing a Wifi Adapter

Installation of a wireless adapter simply involves installing the drivers needed to run the device. As mentioned, many external wireless adapters are basically plug-and-play. Windows will often find and install the basic drivers needed once the device is detected.

If the drivers are not automatically installed there are two standard options. One is to install via the provided disk. The other is to visit the website of the device’s manufacturer and download the appropriate driver. Of the two options, I usually recommend the second. This is because the drivers on the website will be the most up to date version. The disk may have been made months ago and be out of date. Since you don’t have wireless internet working on your laptop yet you’ll need to use a wired connection or download the drivers on a different PC and transfer them using a USB drive.

The decision to install the drivers from the manufacturer if the device is automatically detected is a personal choice. The advantage is that having the latest drivers can help head off potential driver conflicts and other bugs. They also often come with useful third-party software. The downside is that the useful third-party software can sometimes slow down your laptop.

Etc.

This should be all that is needed to makeyour laptop wireless. If you have any other questions, please post a comment.

If there is anything that defines a laptop, it is battery life. The best modern laptops have battery life ranging from a several hours to ten or more.

However, laptop battery life is contingent on laptop use, as is the case with any other piece of electronics. If you feel that you’re not receiving quite the endurance you were expecting then try the three suggestons below. These should help extend your laptop’s battery life, giving you the performance you were expecting.

Use Power Management

The power management schemes which ship with laptops are, unlike most software placed onto consumer PCs, really quite good. These power management schemes automatically manipulate a laptop’s performance, screen brightness, and other features.

It is incredibly easy to use them. Usually only one or two clicks can change a laptop to a low-power mode. The problem, then, is simply remembering. Getting into the habit of setting a laptop into a low-power mode whenever it is away from a power outlet is absolutely crucial to extending battery life. The difference between a maximum performance power management setting and a maximum battery setting can be several hours on machines with large batteries.

Minimum Use, Maximum Result

A device which isn’t turned on will, of course, use no power. And while you might think of your laptop as its own entity, it is really a combination of hardware. Power management software works with this fact by reducing the performance of certain components – usually the processor – in exchange for lower power consumption. You can take this concept further by turning parts of your laptop off or minimizing their use.

The most obvious candidate for this is your wireless radio. Even when not browsing the internet the wireless radio will typically be functioning, either hunting for an active wireless network or sending information related to background information like Skype and AIM. Turning it off can extend battery life by a half hour to an hour.

Battery life can also be increased by avoiding asks that might require the efforts parts of the laptop which would normally not be heavily used. The integrated graphics processor is a good example, as is the hard drive. In other words, it is best not to play 3D games or high definition movies while on battery power, and it is also best not to move files around frequently.

Upgrade the Operating System

Older operating systems like Windows XP are perfect for laptops in many ways, but in others their age is starting to show. One area where Windows XP is far from the best is power management. Vista main gains over XP in that area, and Windows 7 is better still. As a result, upgrading to Windows 7 from XP can yield a generous increase in battery life. At least thirty minutes extra can be expected, but those with particularly large batteries may gain over an hour.

If you’re currently using Linux those gains might even be double those of upgrading from Windows XP. While Linux has certain advanatages, its power management is generally very poor. Choosing Windows 7 as an operating system over Linux can result in instantly apparent battery life increase.

It seems that the Intel empire has come under assault from all sides. The European Union’s finding against Intel was only just beginning to slip from the public memory when Intel unexpectedly settled with AMD For a sum of 1.25 billion dollars. Even this, however, did not succeed in resolving Intel’s anti-trust issues, as the FTC has now begun lay into Intel.

As is typical, Intel has responded by saying they have not hurt consumers. Given Intel’s recent success, it at first seems hard argue they’re not producing the products consumers want. But I think that if you look at Intel a bit more critically it isn’t hard to see how a lack of competition is allowing Intel to rest on its laurels.

Case in point? Pinetrail.

I can’t remember a more disappointing product release in recent memory. Besides a modest increase in battery life, Pinetrail does absolutely nothing new from consumers. We can expect that new Pinetrail netbooks are going to operate the same as any other Atom powered netbook made in the last two years.

For Intel, I’m sure Pinetrail is exciting indeed. By integrating the graphics and the memory controller Intel has managed to compact the functionality of the typical Atom hardware, reducing the costs of manufacturing the product. If you’re an Intel shareholder this is great news. Atom has always resulted in far less profit than other products in Intel’s stable.

But I’m not an Intel shareholder, and neither are most people who buy netbooks. I couldn’t care less if Intel is reducing costs. Yes, perhaps these cost reductions will eventually trickle down to consumers, but I have my doubts. Atoms processors and the associated chipset are only a small fraction of the product costs of a netbook. Besides, it is not cost which needs improvement. There are bigger fish to fry, such as multi-threaded performance and support for video acceleration. These are areas where Atom could show the greatest improvement, and they are also areas Intel has ignored.

Could it be any other way? Of course it could. Intel is not making any improvements because they don’t really have to. Atom could be better. But with no competitor capable of providing a similar product, Intel has no incentive to move quickly. AMD’s supposed Atom-fighter, Bobcat, will not be around until 2011. Until then Intel’s primary goal will be to squeeze as much profit as possible out of every Atom it sells. This ruthlessness is arguably the primary reason Intel has come to its current position as the dominate world-wide chip maker. Even if AMD’s Bobcat arrived soon, and turned out to be a clearly better product, we would be back to square one. Intel has made no admission of guilt (remember, a settlement is not an admission of guilt) and so there is no reason to expect Intel will change its ways. Bobcat based products would become scarce the moment Intel began hinting that processors are a risky business and supplies might happen to dry up a PC maker sells too many AMD based products.

So here we are. Pinetrail is out. We will see a little bit more battery life and perhaps slightly lower prices, and that is all the world’s largest and most successful computer electronics corporation could come up with. None of Atom’s problems have been addressed. Although if you really feel that you’re unsatisfied with the performance of Atom, well, Intel will quite happily direct you to a (more expensive and still graphically deficient) CULV based ultraportable.

This, my friends, is why no one should be happy about a monopoly.

Today more than ever it is important for a laptop to have a good hard drive. Modern processors on most laptops besides netbooks are fast enough to launch and run a web browser or office suite at warp speed. One of the major limiting factors therefor becomes how quickly your laptop can pull data from where it is currently hibernating. The bad news is that in order to reduce costs many modern laptops, from ultraportables to desktop replacements, use woefully slow hard drives. The good news is that upgrading your hard drive is about as easy as making macaroni and cheese. If you want a new laptop hard drive, read on, as I’ll round up my three favorite drives.

Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500 GB

Ah, Western Digital. I love these guys. They have emerged as a clear leader in the mechanical hard drive world. Not only are their products fast, but they are also free of the sort of firmware fiascoes which have recently plagued drives from Seagate and Samsung.

The Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500 GB drive is case in point of why Western Digital is the leader of mechanical storage. Speed? Check. The 500GB Scorpio Blue is a 5,400RPM drive. It is not the fastest drive ever made for a laptop, but it provides good performance across all usage scenarios. Storage? Obviously, check. 500GB is a lot of storage for any system, and many users will never come close to filling it up. Price? Check. The Scorpio Blue 500GB drive typically costs around $90 dollars, which is on par with other competitors.

If there is anything bad that can be said about the Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500 GB drive it is that it does not absolutely excel in any one category. It is not the absolute faster or largest or cheapest. But it is a balanced all-rounder, a true jack of all trades, and it is the perfect drive for the average laptop user.

Intel X25M 80GB

Intel has exploded into the solid state drive arena. Ask your average enthusiast two years ago who they thought would be the most successful at creating solid state drives and I don’t think anyone would say Intel. As it turns out, however, Intel’s skill in processors makes them a contender in solid state drives, as these types of drives are often more limited by controller on the drive than anything else.

The original Intel X25M 80GBdrive was the best of the first round of solid state drives. Now Intel has debuted a new version. It is slightly faster than the old version and (once Intel sorts out the drivers) will fully support TRIM. In fact, the Intel X25M 80GB (and 160GB) drive is essentially the fastest drive you can possibly buy for a laptop. Both its random access performance and sustained transfer performance border on the absurd. There are situations where it is three or four times faster than the fastest mechanical drive.

Of course, the downside of all of this performance is price. The Intel X25M 80GB, which costs around $300 dollars, is not going to be large enough for many users. Going for the 160GB will set you back $550 clams. That is a lot of dough, so you’ll have to decide if the performance benefit is worth the cost.

Western Digital Scorpio Black 320GB

Another Western Digital drive. Well, I did say that they were at the top of their game, didn’t I?

You’re probably wondering, then, what the difference is between the Scorpio Black and the Scorpio Blue. Western Digital users a color scheme to brand its product. Green products are low performance, but power miserly. Blue products are well-rounded. And black products are meant to provide the best possible performance. Being the black category, the Western Digital Scorpio Black 320GB drive has a faster 7,200RPM spindal speed and it also has twice as much cache as the Scorpio Blue drive.

What this means is performance that is around 15 or 20% quicker than the Scorpio Blue series. If that doesn’t sound like a lot, its because in some cases it isn’t. Certainly, it is slim when put in the light of an X-25M, which is hugely faster than any mechanical drive. However, 15 or 20% faster performance can be a big deal if you do a lot of transfers on big files, as you might if you’re using your computer as a desktop replacement. Western Digital has also priced the Scorpio Black right. The Western Digital Scorpio Black 320GB costs only $80 dollars, which is very affordable. If you want a laptop hard drive which straddles the line between speed and price, the Scorpio Black is a good bet.

So, you’re ready to join the legions of people now packing bite-sized computers? You’re far from alone. Netbooks have become a huge part of the mobile PC market, and their growth is only slowed by the massive amount of the market they’ve already consumed. As a result, netbooks can be found everywhere, from general superstores like Wal-Mart to online specility retailiers like Newegg.

Choosing the correct retailer is important. It of course determines the price you’ll receive, and it also determines your options should your new netbook unfortuantly have a defect. The retailer you choose also may determine the precise netbook as you can buy, as there are certain models which are only available at certain retailers.

So, without further ado, let’s pick your poison.

Brick and Mortar Retailers

The most obvious place to buy a netbook, or an PC, is often the local retailer. Despite the popularity of online shopping, not everyone is comfortable purchasing a PC of any kind that they have not been able to first see and touch for themselves.

Retailers like Wal-Mart have low prices, but poor selection

There are many retail shops across the country, from nationwide chains like Bestbuy to more regional chains like Fry’s Electronics. The precise selection you’ll have to choose from depends on where you live, but generally there are two different types of places you can buy. The first is general retailers, and the second is electronics retailers.

Often times, Wal-Mart, Target, and other general retailers will advertise deals on various PCs. They are usually mobile PCs of some kind. It is not unusual for these superstores to beat out more targeted electronics retailers on price, but those deals are always on very specific models. If you’re not sure about something once you arrive, you’re out of luck, because there probably won’t be anyone on hand to help you. Although geeks often make fun of the employees of electronics retailers, they’re better than nothing.  General retailers are usually a low-pressure enviornment, but don’t go to them unprepared, as you’ll either leave confused or – worse – leave with a product you later find doesn’t serve your needs.

Electronics retailers like Best Buy are staffed by individuals specifically employeed to help customers. Although the quality of their guidance can be dubious – don’t take their suggestions at face value – they’re better than nothing. If you’re looking at a specific product but decide there is one part of it that turns you off, they can help guide you to something similar. Also, the selection of these electronics retailers is much better. Best Buy might have 8 or 9 netbooks in display, while Wal-Mart will only have one or two. The downside with these electronics retailers, however, is that they are often high-pressure. You may have to tell your sales person numerous times you don’t want any extended warranties or other special offers, only to be forced to repeat yourself at register.

My Pick? I prefer electronics retailers. The lack of selection at general retailers makes them frustrating to shop at, and their staff is unhelpful if you have questions. With that said, however, its worth watching the ads of general retailers. Sometimes they will have a really great deal.

Online Retailers

Lumping online retailers into specific categories is difficult. Even sites which are known for very specific products, like Newegg or Tiger Direct, have a huge library of products unreleated to netbooks or even PC hardware. The largest retailers, like Amazon.com, seem to quite literally carry everything under the sun. Yet despite their general nature, these retailers usually have great prices and an unbeatable selection.

Strangely, the best way to shop these retailers is to actually not visit their storefronts at all. Websites like Google Shopping and Pricewatch can provide compilations of pricing from numerous retailers and compare them directly, allowing you to find the lowest price on a particular product. This can save you a good hour of your time when comparing the prices of a specific netbook you’re looking to buy.

With that said, however, your choice should not be based entirely on price. Besides the big players, many of which are now household names, there are thousands of small e-stores of various sizes. Some of these retailers are fully functional web stores just as good as Newegg or Amazon.com, although their selection might be a little smaller. A few, however, are fly-by-nite retailers that might go bust a week down the road. Luckily, price comparison services also give users a chance to rate the stores they purchase from. Pay attention to these ratings and you’ll avoid any unsavory online retailers.

Many who purchase online worry about needing to return an item. This can certainly be a hassel, since you can’t just go back to the store the same day to get a new product. However, the major online retailers have excellent return policies that will pay for return shipping and at the very least allow an exchange, if not a refund.

My pick? I personally like Amazon.com and Newegg the best. They have responsive customer service departments and usually the lowest prices.

Contract Retailers

Recently, a third way has opened for netbook buyers – the option to purchase a netbook along with a service contract, much as one would by a cell phone. These services are offered by major nationwide wireless providers like Verizon and AT&T as well as some local service providers. The netbooks are usually offered a steep discount, and I’ve even come across a few offers which provided the netbook for free.

Verizon offers netbooks at low prices, but a contract is required

Of course, there is an obvious catch – you have to purchase a service contract, usually for two years. These contracts are for wireless broadband services. They do make since for some users, as the provide extreme mobility. A good wireless broadband provided combined with a good netbook could literally all you to move about a city for a full work day fully connected to the internet no matter where you go. To some individuals this is an outstanding service.

However, a contract is a contract, and wireless broadband services don’t come cheap. The least expensive offer I’ve come across was for 40 dollars a month. Over the course of a contract, this would add up to $960 dollars, not including any setup fees or other such charges. Suddenly that free netbook doesn’t look like such a good deal, does it? Worse, the netbooks offered are usually extremely limited. The netbook you end up with may be a decent, fully functional model, but it probably won’t be that exact netbook you wanted.

My pick? Unless you are going to need access to the internet every single day while on the road, this isn’t the best option. Even if you do need the service, don’t jump on the deal just because you can get a netbook for free. Make sure the netbook you’re getting is one you actually want.

Sorting It Out

Personally, of the three choices above, I recommend online retailers. They are a no-pressure enviornment which provides by far the best selection at low prices. Some of the best netbooks, like those by MSI and Samsung, and very difficult to find anywhere except online retailers, and it would be a shame to exclude those selections from your search.

Electronics retailers are my second choice. They’re a good place to take in the practical considerations which are important to netbooks, like size and keyboard layout. They also offer quick, easy service should you find your new netbook to have a problem.

Contract retailers are far and away the worst place to buy. They offer poor selection and, while you can get a netbook for a low price upfront, the contract charges are extremely expensive over the life of the contract. Worse, they usually don’t offer the service of a electronics retailer. Any technical questions will likely be met with blank expressions. After all, their main business is selling wireless services, not electronics.

No matter where you buy, be sure to read Smidgen PC’s other guides and articles before making a purchase, as you’ll find their advice invaluable. Happy shopping!

After much testing, my review of the Lenovo Q110 is now up at Brighthub.

It is, on the whole, and interesting product with many high points, but it isn’t perfect. First impressions are good. I own a Lenovo laptop, and and my mother bought one on my recommendation. Both have outstanding build quality, and in spite of its low price the Q110 is also much more solidly built then its competitors. The MSI Wind Box in particular has always felt cheap to me, but the Q110 is a lovely piece of kit to look at.

The performance fires on all cylinders, as well. The Ion chipset isn’t the graphical equivalent of Jesus, as some hardware websites have previously suggested. It isn’t going to turn the Q110 or any other nettop into a gaming machine, nor does it make certain that you’ll be able to play a particular bit of high-definition goodness. It does make many things that would not run smoothly before go quicker. On a typical nettop, almost any 3D game is hopeless, but the Ion at least lets you break out some Civilization 4 or World of Warcraft – so long as you don’t get crazy with the detail sliders.

My only real concern is the price. $399 is a lot to ask for an Ion nettop when a similarly equipped Acer AspireRevo is sitting pretty with a price tag of $329.99 . What does the extra $70 dollars get you? Nothing, in terms of performance. Yet the Acer AspireRevo doesn’t feel as good to use. Is that intangible enough for you?

To be truthful, though, I think the verdict is still out on all these Ion products. They’re fast enough to do somethings, but not really fast enough to please me, the enthusiast. And at the same time, they’re not significantly if at all cheaper then basic notebooks and desktops. I like the Q110 a lot, but I wouldn’t buy one. I therefor have to think about the theoretical person. Who is this for? I’m not entirely sure.

In any case, go read my review. And if you decide you want a Q110, let me know. I’d like to meet this theoretical person I’m pondering.

Using an HDTV as an HTPC monitor is a very common setup for those who own HTPCs. It is the obvious way of setting up an HTPC in a home theater, but it is also commonly used by those who choose to buy a second, smaller HDTV for use in their home office so that they can enjoy movies while balancing the family budget.

Buying an HDTV for use as an HTPC monitor can bring issues, however. HDTVs are built to be just that – a TV – so not all work well as a monitor. This guide will help you choose the best HDTV for your PC.

LCD, LED or Plasma?

The choice between LCD or Plasma is a traditional choice facing any HDTV buyer. Now there are also LED HDTVs – essentially a variant of LCD technology – which make the choice more complex.

A LCD or LED HDTV is best as a monitor

In the battle between Plasma and LCD, I generally recommend LCD HDTVs for use as a PC monitor. I love Plasma, and I consider them better for dedicated home theater use in many situations, but if you’re buying an HDTV for an HTPC or home PC monitor you’ll want to purchase something which is relatively close to PC monitor. Plasma often have pixels of a non traditional shape, and the sharper, brighter image on an LCD HDTV makes it easier to read text.

If you take this advice and decided on an LCD HDTV for your HTPC/PC monitor, you’ll then need to choose between LCD and LED. In summary, the difference between the two is that LCD HDTVs produce an image through the use of several large lights behind the screen, while LED HDTVs use numerous small LED lights. Because the numerous LEDs allow more flexibility in the way the display is lit, it produces better images in dark scenes and better colors overall.

LED HDTVs are superior to LCD HDTVs in almost all situations. That said, LED HDTVs are also more expensive the LCD HDTVs in almost all situations. The question between them therefor has more to do with your budget than anything else.

Screen Resolutions vs. Size

One issue that often catches those buying an HDTV for an HTPC/PC monitor off guard is that of resolution. Many assume that because HDTVs are very large, they’ll offer more usual screen space then a monitor. In fact, they often offer less. The highest resolution currently available on an HDTV is 1920×1080, a resolution commonly found on 24 inch monitors.

This resolution issue can become a large problem on any HDTV to be used with an HTPC/PC. PCs render images in pixels, and 95% of applications of PCs are built for use with displays that offer very small pixels. The pixels on an HDTV are relatively large in size, and this can make smaller details appear very blocky on an HDTV. A line of size 8 text in MS Word, for example, can be very challenging to read on some HDTVs because the pixels are so large that they’re not able to accurately display such small details.

What this means is that the best HDTV for an HTPC/PC monitor will have a high resolution for its size. For example, a 37″ HDTV with 1080p resolution would work better as a monitor than an HDTV of the same size with a 720p resolution. With that said, however, the importance of this depends on your intended use. HDTVs used in a home theater will mostly be displaying movies, so the issue isn’t as important. An HDTV to be paired with a home office PC, however, may often display text, so the resolution issue can be very important.

The Connection Question

Having plenty of HDMI connections is important

A final important consideration when looking for the best HDTV for HTPC/PC use is that of connections. HDTVs can have various different kinds of connections, such as HDMI, DVI, VGA, Displayport, and others. Expensive HDTVs often have every connection one could possibly think of, but on less expensive and smaller HDTVs you’ll want to make sure the HDTV can easily connect to your HTPC/PC.

Figuring out which connection you’ll need isn’t too difficult. All you’ll need to do is check how your PC currently connects to your monitor. The monitor will label the connection type, and this will tell you all you need to know. As long as you purchase an HDTV with that type of connection available, you’ll be fine.

Just don’t forget you also need connections for other equipment, too. So if you plan on hooking up other devices, such as Blu-Ray players or DVRs, don’t forget to purchase an HDTV with enough connections to go around!

HDTV Quick Picks

Here are my three recommendations of the best HDTVs for use as an HTPC/PC monitor.

HannSpree XV HT09

If you’re looking for a budget HDTV to be used primarily with a home office PC, the HannSpree XV HT09 is a pretty good choice. It is a 28 inch HDTV with a resolution of 1080p. It’s image quality isn’t stellar, but its reasonable for the price of around $350, and its high resolution relative to the screen size means that it is a good choice for an HDTV that will need to display small text. Purchase the HannSpree XV HT09 from Amazon.com.

Samsung UN32B6000

The smallest of the LED HDTVs currently available, the Samsung UN32B6000 brings the brilliance of LED technology to a small form factor. It has shockingly good color reproduction and black levels as deep as some Plasma sets. It is a 32 inch 1080P display and offers a large number of connection options. It is pricey at around $1000 bucks, but worth it for those who want the best image quality. Purchase the Samsung UN32B6000 from Amazon.com.

LG37LH55

LG’s 37LH55 is a traditional LCD HDTV 37 inches in size. It is a 1080P display and is large enough to be used either in a home theater environment or with a home office PC. It is fairly high up in LG’s LCD HDTV line, so it includes many connection options. It also boasts LG’s latest 240Hz “Trumotion” technology which helps prevent image blur. The LG37LH55 is also priced around $1000 bucks, which isn’t bad for a high-quality 37″ HDTV. Purchase the LG37LH55 from Amazon.com.

In November of 2009 Google announced its intentions for the Google Chomre OS. This was not an official release. The full version of Google Chrome OS is, according to Google, not to be released until late in 2010. However, Google did release the source code for developers, which means in effect that Google Chrome OS is available for those who wish to use a beta version. Currently the Google Chrome OS can be downloaded from Gdgt and requires VMplayer to run.

With the Chrome OS now available, many tech-saavy individuals are wondering they should download it rather than paying to upgrade their netbook or nettop to Windows 7. It does seem like an appetizing thought. This article details the many differences between the two operating systems so users can know what to expect.

Interface

Google’s Chrome OS is radically different from any other operating system ever released. The only real application which runs on the Google Chrome OS is Google’s Chrome web browser. In essence, the Chrome web browser is the entire operating system. Everything is accessed through the web browser including all applications because the only applications which Google Chrome is built to use are web applications. For example, on a normal Windows based system someone who wants to write a letter would open Microsoft Word. On the Google Chrome OS that person would need to use Google Docs through the Chrome web browser. Even the operating system’s few offline functions, like accessing USB drivers, are accomplished through the browser.

What this means is that the Google Chrome OS is the first true cloud operating system. The interface is very slick and easy to use, and fells somewhat similar to using Android on a smart phone, although more polished. Everything looks very clean and because you’re using the Chrome browser to accomplish every task there is little confusion about where you need to go to accomplish something. It is intuitive, particularly for a pre-release version of a brand new operating system.

However, most of the functionality becomes disabled if an internet connection is not available. This is obviously a big difference from Windows. Although Windows 7 revises the task bar so that it is based more heavily on the use of Icons, it is still a taskbar and functions much as it always have. The taskbar is, in my opinion, a far better method of handling multi-tasking, but Chrome does look very elegant so long as you’re not one to open twenty applications at once.

Performance

When it comes to speed during regular tasks there is no doubt that Google’s Chrome operating system is the clear winner. Because it is built for such a specific purpose a huge amount of fat can be trimmed away. The Google Chrome OS only really needs to worry about the Google Chrome browser and what it is doing. The Chrome OS loads in the blink of an eye, compared to Windows 7 which can take about a minute to boot into the login screen. There is even an overall snappier feel which is similar to the feel of using Windows 7 on a good solid state drive.

That said, the fact that all applications are accessed through Google Chrome makes many other performance measures irrelevant. The Google Chrome operating system can’t run offline games, can’t utilize complex database programs, and can’t be used for video editing. This means that Windows 7, despite feeling slower in many respects, wins by default in the many categories of performance where the Google Chrome OS chooses not to compete.

Security

One problem with cloud computing is the possibility for security to be compromised. The Google Chrome OS appears to be taking security very seriously for this reason and it has a number of security features which are rather innovative. One is that, due to the constantly online nature of the Chrome OS, the operating system always keeps itself updated. There is no option to download new updates – you simply must. The Chrome OS also takes a look at itself during this process to make sure nothing appears compromised. If anything seems to have been tampered with, the Chrome OS grabs corrected code from the internet and repairs itself.

Google Chrome also has an advantage because nothing except for the operating system’s core components run locally. Since all applications are web applications it is very easy for the operating system to detect a program which is not supposed to be running and kill it before it does anything malicious. This is a luxury that Windows 7 simply can’t have because applications are stored on disk and Windows 7 is therefor required to give them some level of trust.

The only downside is that low-tech security breaks can be a larger issue. In theory, someone using Google Chrome OS is effectively guarding their entire computing life with a password. Should someone find that password out they would be able to access absolutely everything without physical access to the victim’s computer or even an online connection to the victim’s computer.

But don’t discount Windows 7. With automatic updates and user account control Windows 7 is the most secure version of Windows yet. In addition, the maturity of Windows 7 gives some comfort. Remember, the Google Chrome OS is currently a pre-release version, and even when the Chrome OS is put out for mass consumption it will still be the new kid on the block. New code is bound to have bugs, so some security holes are likely.

Verdict

The usefulness of Google’s Chrome OS will ultimately depend on what exactly you intend to do with it. It isn’t hard to see that in all three areas – interface, performance, and security – the overall tone indicates that in the battle of Google Chrome OS vs. Windows 7, the Chrome OS scores some victories. The interface of the Chrome OS is sleek and simple, the performance is snappy, and security is tight. That’s not to say Windows 7 is bad in those areas, because it isn’t. But the Chrome OS is better.

However, the Chrome OS is also limiting in what it can do when compared to Windows 7. If you can’t run it in a web browser you won’t be running it in Chrome OS. Period. And you’ll need to always be connected to the internet to gain any use from a netbook or nettop using the Chrome OS. If you just want to do some offline writing, Windows 7 will let you, but Chrome OS won’t.

But as it turns out, the battle of Google Chrome OS vs Windows 7 isn’t one at all. Being a pre-release version that isn’t exactly easy to install, the current Chrome OS is free. And it is expected to remain free even after the public release. In addition, the very small size of the Google Chrome OS means that it can easily share a hard drive with another operating system. So rather than picking one, do yourself a favor and learn to love both.

I’ve been testing the Lenovo Q110 for a little over a week now. It is a pretty slick looking unit, despite being matte on one side and gloss on the other rather than completely gloss as the initial press photos would leave one to believe. I’ve tried out the mounting bracket for monitor stands and by god, does it work well, and the unit is actually made so that it works well. We’ve been hearing for, oh, ages that we’d have netbooks that fit directly onto the back of monitors, but this is the first one I’ve seen that does it would looking like a complete hack job.

Something else which has jumped out at me is the lack of bloatware on this unit. It is so minimal that I’m frankly wondering if perhaps the full retail versions are going to be different. There is very, very little on the Lenovo Q110 besides what you absolutely need. No fancy power scheme software, no Ultra-Q Extreme One Touch Green Overclock, and other such shenanigans. Even my Samsung NC10, which isn’t known for having a lot of bloat, seems like a fat man in comparison. This seems to have paid off in boot times, as the Lenovo Q110 is booting up just as quickly as my personal desktop PC – which is equipped with an SSD. The Lenovo Q110 has a mechanical drive, and a slow one, so the fact it is nearly as quick impressive.

I must say, however, that I’ve been so far disappointing by what Ion can do. Ion has been billed as basically the netbook/nettop equivalent of the second coming of Christ. It is supposed to re-energize the segment by allowing netbooks and nettops to accomplish far more then they were once able to, particularly in the realm of HD video and gaming. That, readers, is turning out to be pretty fanciful thinking. The Lenovo Q110 has no optical drive, remember, so I’m running video through the usual online sources like Youtube, ABC.COM, and iTunes. The results have been a buffet of stuttering and skipping, and my attempts at 3D gaming have been similar.

The problem is, alas, the Atom processor. I’m not entirely surprised, because ages ago several hardware sites ran previews of the Ion chipset and found it was largely held back by the Atom. Many of my video and gaming tests maxed out the Atom immediately.  The other part of the problem is that so many forms of media don’t properly support 3D acceleration. Youtube is the case in point. Until Flash properly accelerates video, which apparently will happen soon, anything with a single-core Atom is going to struggle with Youtube. Or Hulu. Or any number of other flash based video sites.

This aside, I’m pretty impressed with the Q110. Its expensive for a nettop without an integrated monitor, but its also a higher class of product. The 2GB of RAM is particularly good to have.

Look for the full review coming up in one or two weeks on Bright Hub. I will post a link to that review here as well.

Thin is in, particularly when it comes to small computers like HTPCs. Although there are advantages to buying a large case, as outlined in the Smidgen PC HTPC case buying guide, many simply do not have the room for a massive case in their home theater. There are also aesthetic reasons to pick a slim HTPC case, as such cases don’t attract undue attention, although your grandparents will wonder how a PC can fit in such a slim enclosure!

The slim HTPC case market is still somewhat untapped, but there are some good cases to pick from. The three slim HTPC cases listed below are my personal favorites.

Thermaltake Mozart SX

Thermaltake Mozart SX

Slim, yes, but small? The Thermaltake Mozart SX isn’t. Although it is only 90mm tall (without optional “feet” installed) the Thermaltake Mozart SX is quite large in terms of width and depth coming in at around 19 and 17.5 inches respectively. There is reason for this, however, as the size allows for installation of both full ATX motherboards and most normally sized ATX power supplies. That’s rare for a slim HTPC case. The extra room may not matter to some, but to those looking to re-purpose an older machine as an HTPC the Mozart SX is a very attractive slim HTPC enclosure.

Besides size, the Thermaltake Mozart SX has a few other features of note. It can fit up to 3 3.5″ drives, which is a lot for a slim HTPC case and enough that a HTPC built in the Thermaltake Mozart SX could double as a home file server. The Mozart SX also comes with VFD, remote and media software, although none of it is class leading. Typically priced under $200 dollars, the Thermaltake Mozart SX is competitive on price. On the whole it is a solid offering, although its size in width and depth will make it impractical for some.

Silverstone LC11M

Silverstone LC11M

Although I once considered Silverstone only for their high-end cases, Silverstone has really been churning out the small enclosures. The LC11M is Silverstone’s slim HTPC case product, and it has the typical look and feel of a Silverstone product. Silverstone has been doing a good job of ensuring that their HTPC cases look handsome from the front, and the LC11M is no different. The only problem is the excessively bright blue LEDs on the front. These same absurdly bright LEDs are found on some of Silverstone’s other products as well.

Given that it is around the same height as the Mozart, but several inches smaller in width and depth, the Silverstone LC11M feels a bit cramped. It comes with its own tiny PSU and a few small 80mm fans. In practice, though, the smaller usable space inside the Silverstone LC11M doesn’t feel like a problem. The case fits mATX boards, two hard drives, and requires a riser card to use the PCI slots. Besides an extra hard drive there isn’t anything useful that can be fit into a Mozart SX that won’t fit in the LC11M.

The only real downside is that the Silverstone LC11M usually retails around $220, and it is arguable if the higher price is worthwhile. It isn’t easy to find, either, even online. If you want one and find it at stock at a reasonable price, grab it!

Silverstone LC19

Silverstone LC19

Moving down the Silverstone family tree in price, but not necessarily in price, we have the SilverStone LC19. While both the Thermaltake Mozart SX and Silverstone LC11M are thin, the LC19 takes it to a different level. It is only 2.7 inches tall, making it one of the slimmest HTPC cases available. In fact, this slim HTPC case is no larger then a modern Blu Ray player. It isn’t particularly large in other dimensions, either, at 15 inches wide and 14 inches deep.

Despite this, the SilverStone LC19 still supports mATX motherboards, PCI cards through riser cards, and a full size 3.5 inch hard drive. There sacrifices in other areas, however. The SilverStone LC19 only supports slim optical drives, which are more costly then normal ones. It is also lacking in air flow as it has only a single 50mm exhaust fan and the power supply is an external model, such as with a laptop, which can make wire clutter in your home theater worse.

These downfalls are to be expected, however. When buying a slim HTPC case this thin one should expect to have to jump through a few hoops. While the SilverStone LC19 does have some competitors in the ultra-slim HTPC case market, it is the slimiest HTPC case I’ve found consistently available in the United States. And while a price of around $200 bucks isn’t cheap, it isn’t any worse then the LC11M.

Word of Warning

While the three slim HTPC cases here are my personal picks, I do want to warn those new to HTPCs that these cases are all radically different then normal PC cases and even normal HTPC cases. They all require the use of riser cards in order to use PCI cards. The also are cramped and difficult to work with. One can never assume when building PCs this small that any particular part will fit just because it works in a mATX tower. Slim HTPC cases allow for the creation of some very impressive HTPCs, but be sure to do the research before you buy.