HP Pavilion g6-1a69us and Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 Laptops

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In this laptop review, we take a crack at the HP Pavilion g6-1a69us and the Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 computers.

The HP Pavilion g6-1a69us is a mainstream laptop that should appeal to those looking for a bargain.  Priced at $549, the Pavilion g6-1a69us offers a good combination of decent overall performance and design that should satisfy most casual laptop users.  HP offers the g6-1a69us with a standard one-year warranty on parts and labor.


The Pavilion g6-1a69us comes equipped with a 2.53GHz Intel Core i3-380M processor.  Unfortunately, this processor is not part of the new batch from Intel.  Instead, it's one of last year's versions.  Since that's the case, you won't get the same level of performance or the battery saving features that the new Core i3 processors provide.  At this price point, however, it's hard to complain.  The processor should suffice for most casual users as they perform common daily tasks such as surfing the internet, viewing multimedia, and even participating in some light gaming.  Additional multitasking help comes in the form of 4GB of DDR3 RAM. 

HP offers a good amount of storage on the Pavilion g6-1a69us with a 500GB hard drive.  Graphics are supported by an Intel HD graphics card.  Perhaps the biggest disappointment of all of the laptop's features is its battery.  If you plan on viewing video while unplugged, you can expect about two hours of usage.  That's it.  You will get more battery life if you perform less intensive tasks, but that is still underwhelming.  Then again, this is a full-sized laptop and not exactly meant as a companion for the constant traveler.  For the operating system, you get the standard fare of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit. 

Additional features of the Pavilion g6-1a69us are quite standard.  There's a DVD drive that let's you view DVDs and listen to CDs.  A media card reader is onboard for when you need to transfer data from other devices.  If you want to connect to the internet, the integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi will come in handy.  Last, but not least, is the integrated webcam and microphone for video chatting with friends.



HP didn't include too many frills when it comes to the Pavilion g6-1a69us's design.  The laptop has a rather generic look with its proprietary HP Imprint finish in charcoal gray.  One thing that could be said for the g6-1a69us's look is that it will blend in well with any environment, either casual or professional.  The laptop has a sturdy overall feel and measures in at 14.7 inches wide by 9.7 inches tall by 1.4 inches thick.  Again, it's not the most portable laptop around, but it's not the bulkiest either. 

The 15.6-inch LED display has a 1,366 x 768 resolution that produces decent graphics.  The display's size makes the laptop a viable alternative for watching videos, although the integrated speakers won't exactly shatter your windows, so bring along some headphones.  The keyboard is suitable for typing with its wide, flat keys.  There is no number pad, however.  The touch pad is spacious and blends in with the wrist rests for a more streamlined look.  In terms of responsiveness, the touch pad passes the test.  Rounding out the g6-1a69us's design is its connectivity.   You get a VGA port, Ethernet port, HDMI port, three USB 2.0 ports, and microphone and headphone jacks.  There's no eSATA, unfortunately.

If price is most important to you, then the HP Pavilion g6-1a69us deserves a look.  Sure, it's lacking the newest generation i3 processor and doesn't come with all the bells and whistles, but it shouldn't have to at its price point. 

Next: Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 >>
 

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